Recovery From Psychosis: A Phenomenological Inquiry

While mainstream psychiatry tends to view psychosis as an enduring and chronic condition, there is growing interest in the possibility of recovery from psychosis. A phenomenological research method was utilized in interviewing 17 individuals who all self-identified as being in recovery from psychosis. The research question was, "What was the lived experience of having a psychosis episode and now being in recovery?" Through thematic analysis, the authors found four major themes and seven subthemes that described the experience of recovery from psychosis. The four major themes included: (i) pre-psychosis childhood traumatic experiences, (ii) the descent into psychosis, (iii) paths to recovery, and (iv) post-recovery challenges. These findings suggest both some potential pathways and barriers toward recovery and transformation from psychosis.