Recognizing and responding to early psychosis: a qualitative analysis of individual narratives.
OBJECTIVE
The ways in which individuals recognize and respond to emerging psychotic illness remain poorly understood. This retrospective study explored when and how individuals recognized changes in themselves and responded to these changes.


METHODS
This study used qualitative methods to explore when and how 15 individuals recognized changes and identified how they responded. Standardized information on the onset of psychosis was also collected.


RESULTS
Themes relating to recognizing and responding to emerging psychosis were identified through qualitative analysis of interview transcripts. Themes included normalization, explanatory models, withdrawal, avoiding help, and coming to terms with psychosis.


CONCLUSIONS
Participants recognized changes in themselves but tended not to understand the observed changes as part of a mental illness. Individuals avoided professional help because of stigma concerns and identified domains of recovery beyond the management of symptoms and medication. Qualitative methods offer a promising strategy for understanding subjective illness experience and suggesting psychosocial treatment approaches.
Judge
Abigail M
AM
Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3270, USA. judgea@unc.edu
Estroff
Sue E
SE
Perkins
Diana O
DO
Penn
David L
DL
D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003071:Cognition; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D004924:Escape Reaction; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D033262:Narration; D015588:Observer Variation; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012649:Self Concept; D012918:Social Alienation; D013240:Stereotyping
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents