Exploring lived experience of recovery processes in those with schizophrenia: A systematic review with thematic synthesis of qualitative evidence

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to conduct a systematic review of literature which explores lived experiences of the manifestation, appearance of meaning, and interpretation of the recovery process in schizophrenia. Recovery as a lived experience in schizophrenia is an idiosyncratic and debated process that emerges from the perspectives of people who experience schizophrenia. Recovery literature is gained from qualitative accounts and synthesising these accounts provides an overview of the evidence base for recovery. A search of Medline, Emcare, Cinahl and Scopus databases discovered 11 studies that were published between 2016–2020 that met the scope of the review. Studies were included if they used qualitative methodology to explore how individuals with schizophrenia experience the process of recovery. Studies were subjected to quality assessment using the Critical Appraisal Skills Program (CASP) Qualitative Research Checklist. Several themes were identified during the qualitative analysis. These themes were linked by a common thread. This “meta-theme” is “connection.” Connection with individual sense of self and connecting with the social world. Connecting with self enhance the capacity of those with schizophrenia to be able to connect interpersonally and intersubjectively with the social world, which is seen to lead to recovery. The reviewed literature supported the theoretical approach that the person with schizophrenia needed to regain their lost self before taking further steps in the recovery process. Further research of schizophrenia as a self – disorder being phenomenologically designed would further highlight the necessity of this for the recovery process. Such research would illuminate recovery being about who you are and not about how sane or normal you are.

“Why shouldn’t I expect a lot from life?” – a qualitative study of what facilitates long-term recovery in first-episode psychosis

“…As such, there is value in further demonstrating that people who have historically had little agency have also facilitated their own recovery (12). Furthermore, in line with previous qualitative studies we found that the participants' recovery process did not primarily occur within specialized mental health services, but in their everyday lives (15,24,27,39,50).…”