Background & Aim: Chronic mental disorders are one of the causes of disabilities in the world that cover all aspects of a person's life. These disorders are associated with frequent relapses. Despite the importance of the concept of relapse of chronic mental disorders, a comprehensive definition has not been provided for it and the application of this concept in the current situation is not clear. The aim of the present study was to analyze the concept of relapse in chronic mental disorders.

Materials & Methods: In this study, Rodgers' evolutionary approach was used. The steps of this approach include defining the concept, determining the appropriate scope for collecting information, collecting data related to the atribiuties, antecedents, and consequences of the concept, analyzing the information considering the characteristics of the concept, stating a suitable example in relation to the concept, and determining the hypotheses and implications of the concept analysis. For this purpose, information databases inside and outside the country were used for searching. The main criterion for entry was full-text printed articles in Persian and English between 2014 and 2024. Finally, 28 articles were selected for review and analysis. For this purpose, a content analysis approach was used.

Findings: The atribiuties of the concept were identified in the two areas of preliminary symptoms and specific symptoms. Factors can facilitate or prevent it. Factors such as client prone to relapse, family related factors, social stigma, disease related factors, disease management inefficiency, care system failure and perceived stress are involved in relapse. The antecedents were included in two areas, including facilitating factors and preventing relapse. The consequences caused by relapse in chronic mental disorders were also classified into two subclasses: disease burden on the client and disease burden on the family.

Conclusion: Relapse starts with preliminary symptoms and shows itself with more specific symptoms. Relapse has a heavy price and involves the client and the family, but it can be reduced by relying on the family's efficiency and improving social support. The results of this study help the mental healthcare team to prevent the occurrence of facilitating antecedents by identifying the atribiuties of the concept and ultimately reduce the burden of adverse consequences resulting from the relapse of chronic mental disorders.