title: A striving towards 'normality': illness-related beliefs among individuals living with a psychotic disorder.
abstract: Beliefs related to illness constrain or facilitate health and wellbeing, and are of importance in how people understand and manage their illness. The aim of this study was to identify illness beliefs among individuals living with illness from a psychotic disorder. Data collected through two qualitative interview studies was secondary analysed by means of a method for directed content analysis. Beliefs of being different and odd, and of what constitutes 'normality', are prominent and constrain, in several respects, wellbeing among the individuals with psychotic illness. Beliefs about possible wellbeing are preferably related to existential, human desires of caretaking and responsibility for self and others. An awareness among mental healthcare staff that one does not hold the unequivocal truth about what is normal and healthy, is of importance. They need to ask questions about illness beliefs and not ignore or judge the answers received, but instead discuss them. Relationship-centred care, where a mutual dialogue occurs between the individual, the family and mental healthcare staff, is highlighted.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Department of Health and Caring Sciences, Linnaeus University, 351 95 Växjö, Växjö, Sweden.
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Syrén
authors.forename: Sally
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hultsjö
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology; D003142:Communication; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003469:Culture; D005260:Female; D006262:Health; D006801:Humans; D055809:Illness Behavior; D008297:Male; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D011568:Psychiatric Nursing; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D012648:Self Care / Q000523:psychology; D012944:Social Support