Recovery from schizophrenia: developing context utilising the literature
| Published date | 08 August 2016 |
| Pages | 187-196 |
| Date | 08 August 2016 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/MHSI-01-2016-0003 |
| Author | Keith Ford |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Mental health,Social inclusion |
Recovery from schizophrenia: developing
context utilising the literature
Keith Ford
KeithFord is a Senior Lecturer at
the Faculty of Health and Life
Sciences, Northumbria
University, Newcastle upon
Tyne, UK.
Abstract
Purpose –Recovery has been debated in mental health for some time. Attempts to clarify and
make recovery operational have served to add confusion and uncertainty. This has failed to unite service
users and service providers due to differing approaches, despite the rhetoric. The purpose of this paper is
to offer an overview and to position the context from a humanistic and salutogenic perspective appreciating
new approaches and influences for people in their journey of recovery having been given a diagnosis
of schizophrenia.
Design/methodology/approach –All literature available could not be included and therefore the author did
not select papers purely demonstrating outcome statistics. The preference was to address papers looking at
the connections people have and the important factors they feel contribute towards recovery.
Findings –An agreed definition of recovery cannot be established, but differing perspectives need to be
appreciated and considered if recovery is to be successfully achieved. Some mental health practitioners may
feel they have an understanding of recovery, yet evidence continues to point to the uncertainty in practice and
delivery of services. Newer incentives and recovery networks are establishing themselves to meet areas
missed by traditional approaches.
Originality/value –The value of this literature review is to highlight some of the areas already observed and
to provoke the potential for fresh thinking in relation to a salutogenic approach taking into account the
perceptions of the stakeholder groups. This would enable people to re-evaluate their thoughts and practice
and contextualise where we are in relation to recovery for people diagnosed with schizophrenia.
Keywords Recovery, Salutogenesis, Schizophrenia
Paper type Literature review
The word recovery has been utilised, both in and out of context, for some time within the field of
mental health. This review of the literature aims to enlighten and assist in the contextualisation
and understanding of recovery and the relationship it has for people with a diagnosis of
schizophrenia. We have evolved to a position where people with a diagnosis of schizophrenia are
“expected”to demonstrate some form of recovery (Frese et al., 2009). This offers such a contrast
from the notion of inevitable decline which had been postulated by Kraepelin and many others of
the time. Deegan (2005, p. 1) asserts that, “Despite the enduring legacy of pessimism […]a
majority do recover”. This is evidence that recovery from schizophrenia has evolved considerably
since its recognition as a psychiatric condition (Frese et al., 2009).
This paper contributes to the literature by offering a fresh approach which assists in maintaining a
focus upon recovery by striving to achieve the following goals:
■providing clarity around the existing differences between service user and service provider
views on recovery;
■demystifying the rhetoric regarding recovery by illuminating the personal and subjective
nature of recovery, as opposed to purely symptom control;
This paper contains no conflicts of
interest and there has been no
third party input or support.
DOI 10.1108/MHSI-01-2016-0003 VOL. 20 NO. 3 2016, pp. 187-196, © Emerald Group Publishing Limited, ISSN 2042-8308
j
MENTALHEALTH AND SOCIAL INCLUSION
j
PAG E 18 7
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