Initiating and maintaining a recovery process – experiences of persons with dual diagnosis

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the internal and social factors that persons with experience from severe mental illness and alcohol and other drugs problems, and who have received treatment for these problems, describe as important for initiating and maintaining a recovery process. Design/methodology/approach In total, 40 persons were interviewed and asked to describe factors they perceived as important for initiating and maintaining recovery. The software Nvivo was used to categorise data in internal and social factors with subcategories. Findings There is significant variation in how recovery emerged but involved in general having a proper social situation and finding meaning in life. Initially, the majority had a marginalised situation with need of assistance with housing, employment, financial and social support. Research limitations/implications The change process in the investigated group is interpreted as related to individual resources rather than belonging to a group defined as having “double trouble”. Practical implications The study implies that in addition to professional help to handle diagnosed problems, the group in focus also need support and interventions that address individual complex needs. Social implications Supporting activities/peer support seem to be important for those lacking support from family. At the same time, it is important to recognise the risk of being forced into a recovery identity which might lead to worsening the situation for those who do not fit into this. Originality/value By using the same design as in previous studies, comparisons with other groups are possible while still keeping the qualitative meaning of the investigated factors.

Recovery and identity: a five-year follow-up of persons treated in 12-step-related programs

“…While the identity of being in recovery was related to AOD problems for those in the first theme and this was not the central part of the identity for those in the second theme, some in the latter theme related the recovery identity to mental health. This is in line with research that indicates that individuals reporting both mental health and AOD problems describe their recovery process from AOD problems as something with a possible ending, while mental health problems to a larger extent are referred to as something you have to learn to handle, and as being a part of your identity at least for a longer period of time (Skogens et al, 2018). Thus, those who identified their AOD problems as related to mental health problems perceived that they had recovered from their AOD problems, as defined by the amelioration of symptoms (Davidson & Roe, 2007), sometimes to the extent of allowing unproblematic drinking.…”

Supporting recovery in social work with persons having co-occurring problems – clients’ and professionals’ perceptions

“…The theme concerning professionals is the most elaborated and is organised in subthemes including a subtheme that is related to treatment: support from peers. Initially, the two groupsclients and professionalsare briefly presented (for more detailed information, see Skogens, von Greiff, and Topor 2018;Topor, Skogens, and von Greiff 2018). The interviewees in the client group consisted of 13 women and 27 men between 26 and 62 years old (m = 43).…”

Socialt arbete och människor med psykiska problem – en introduktion

“…Flera studier pekar på att ett återhämtningsinriktat arbete innebär att personens ställning som agent sedd i sitt sociala och livshistoriska sammanhang, bortom en diagnos (Frank & Davidson, 2014;Ljungberg et al, 2015), har en central plats i en sådan process. Dessutom visar studierna att sociala insatser (Andersson, 2009;Topor & Ljungqvist, 2017) främjar en återhämtningsprocess när det gäller både allvarliga psykiska problem (Topor, 2001) och missbruksproblem (von Greiff & Skogens, 2014) och kombinationer av dessa problem (Ness, Borg, & Davidson, 2014;Skogens, von Greiff & Topor, 2018). I en nyligen genomförd svensk studie visade det sig att 16 procent av de studerade personerna som fått en psykosdiagnos för första gången inte hade kontakt med vare sig den psykiatriska vården eller socialtjänstens specialiserade verksamheter de sista fem sammanhängande åren av en tioårsuppföljning.…”