Aims: To generate a short version of a newly developed inventory that adopted the conceptual framework of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) consensus statement on recovery.

Methods: Through Rasch analysis, this paper presents how this recovery inventory (SAMHSA-RIC), with its original 111 items, can be reduced to a much shorter version with only 41 items.

Results: Although internal consistency is slightly lowered because of item reduction, the short version maintains satisfactory and significant correlations with quality of life measures. Overall, the canonical correlation between the scale and WHOQOL-BREF was virtually the same, with only a 0.2% decrease.

Conclusions: SAMHSA-RIC (short version) has strong potential to become a general tool for evaluating rehabilitative services for persons with persistent and severe mental illness. A validation study of the short version with clinical samples is warranted.