A substantive theory of recovery from the effects of severe persistent mental illness.
BACKGROUND
This study investigated Western Australian consumer perspectives of recovery from the effects of a severe mental illness.


METHODS
The grounded theory method was used to collect and analyze data acquired through 15 face-to-face interviews.


CONCLUSIONS
Participants described recovery as a three-phase process of overcoming loss in biomedical, psychological and/or social dimensions. This process was facilitated by personal protective factors and external mechanisms and further explained in the context of role theory.


CONCLUSIONS
Recovery can occur in any one or all of the three dimensions and thus can be complete or partial. It is important to ask, therefore: recovery from what, recovery of what, and recovery to what?
Henderson
Anthony R
AR
Community, Culture & Mental Health Unit, School of Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, University of Western Australia, Fremantle Hospital, Fremantle, Western Australia. tony.henderson@uwa.edu.au
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008875:Middle Aged; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012944:Social Support; D014904:Western Australia