"Why shouldn't I expect a lot from life?" - a qualitative study of what facilitates long-term recovery in first-episode psychosis.

Authors

Gina Åsbø, Hanne Haavind, Sindre Hembre Kruse, Kristin Fjelnseth Wold, Wenche Ten Velden Hegelstad, Kristin Lie Romm, Mike Slade, Torill Ueland, Ingrid Melle, Carmen Simonsen

Published in

BMC psychiatry. Volume 25. Issue 1. Pages 423. Apr 28, 2025. Epub Apr 28, 2025.

Abstract

Qualitative research frequently characterises recovery, but more knowledge on subjective experiences of facilitators of long-term recovery in psychosis is needed. This interview study aimed to explore what people with first-episode psychosis (FEP) highlight as important for their long-term recovery.
Interviews with 20 individuals in recovery (personal and/or clinical) participating in two follow-up studies, 10 and 20-years after treatment start for a first episode schizophrenia or bipolar spectrum disorder. Interviews were thematically analysed by a research team that included a peer researcher.
The analysis generated that personal resources and agency were experienced as the overarching facilitators of recovery, with five themes: (1) Doing recovery in everyday life, involving agency in daily life; (2) Re-evaluating risk, involving re-evaluating limitations and stress reduction; (3) Becoming a caregiver, involving development from being cared for to taking care of others; (4) Negotiating normality, involving identity and social inclusion; (5) Owning and sharing your story, involving accepting lived experience and overcoming stigma.
All participants described themselves as the main facilitators of their own recovery, and treatment as secondary to their efforts. Gradually testing limitations and taking risks, providing social support to others, as well as owning and sharing your story were crucial for promoting long-term recovery in FEP. Clinical implications include supporting service users' agency with strength- based interventions and shared-decision making, as well as refining psychoeducation on stress reduction in a long-term perspective.

PMID:
40295990
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 29 Apr 2025.

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