title: Negotiating the coresearcher mandate - service users' experiences of doing collaborative research on mental health.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Traditionally, the voices of service users have been silent in research into mental health issues. A Norwegian research network, however, recognizes the importance of involving service users as coresearchers and initiated a training program in research methodology and design intended to empower them as active participants in research projects. In this article, we explore how these coresearchers with a mental health service user background experience their participation in projects as well as in attending the training: What is it like being a service user coresearcher in collaborative studies on issues in mental health? How do coresearchers negotiate their roles and mandate?
  
  
  METHODS
  We used focus groups as our data collection method, transcribed the group discussions verbatim, and analyzed the transcriptions using qualitative methodology. We then took the preliminary analyses back to the participants for discussion, auditing, and reanalysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We identified themes that represent important social processes around which the participants developed a consensual understanding: self-definition, constructive differentiation and negotiations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings generate hypotheses on how participatory research into mental health issues can be fruitfully organized, in a way that empowers service users to active and constructive participation.
authors.affiliation: Division of Psychiatry, District General Hospital of Førde, Førde, Norway. christian.moltu@helse-forde.no
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Moltu
authors.forename: Jon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stefansen
authors.forename: Marit
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Svisdahl
authors.forename: Marius
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Veseth
mesh_terms: D003256:Community Participation; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D017144:Focus Groups; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000523:psychology; D006302:Health Services Research / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008603:Mental Health; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017008:Negotiating; D009664:Norway; D010358:Patient Participation / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology*; D010361:Patients / Q000523:psychology*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires