title: Experience of recovery from a first-episode psychosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To understand the subjective factors involved in the recovery process following a first-episode psychosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixteen individuals from a First Episode Program in São Paulo, Brazil were evaluated by a semistructured interview designed to elicit an in-depth narrative of participants' subjective experience of recovery after a first-episode psychosis. Eligibility was established by using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders. The interviews were recorded, the transcripts were coded and themes were grouped together to form conceptual categories.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The participants described the recovery course as a slow and gradual process. Improvement was perceived as based on a decrease or absence of psychotic symptoms, changes in social relationships, renewed autonomy and independence, and restoration of self-reliance and trust in others.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Recovering after a first-episode psychosis can be considered a complex process correlated with treatment, social support, and individual experiences and characteristics. These are important areas to be addressed in first psychotic psychosis interventions, and gains can probably only be obtained in specialized first-episode psychosis programmes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. paulaeisen@gmail.com
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Eisenstadt
authors.forename: Vera B
authors.initials: VB
authors.lastname: Monteiro
authors.forename: Matheus J A
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Diniz
authors.forename: Ana C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Chaves
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001938:Brazil; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D012074:Remission Induction / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents