Managing the impact of psychosis: A grounded theory exploration of recovery processes in psychosis

Objectives. There has been little conceptual bridge building between what individuals report as helpful in recovery and how psychological therapy might impact on recovery in psychosis. This study explores the links between therapy and recovery in psychosis. Design. Grounded theory was chosen as an appropriate methodology to distil an explanatory account across the qualitative data collected. Methods. An initial sample of 19 therapy session tapes and 23 interviews with psychologists and clients engaged in psychological therapy in psychosis was collected and analysed using grounded theory. This data set was extended through the additional sampling and analysis of 31 published personal accounts of the experience of psychosis. Results. The study reports on specific elements of a larger grounded theory study that particularly relate to recovery processes in psychosis. Specific categories of activity were conceptualised to theorise the key activities involved in managing the impact of psychosis. Conclusions. Therapy in psychosis appeared to be aimed at enhancing clients' functioning in the social world. In an effort to achieve this, it seemed that clients engaged in an ongoing effort to manage the impact of psychosis on both their subjective experience and on day to day life. The conceptualisation of this effort as an active, ongoing, and individually-directed process was consistent with other examinations of service user accounts.