Recovery from first-episode psychosis and the role for services beyond first-episode detection

Contemporary views of psychosis are more positive about outcomes and the potential for people with psychosis to have experiences of recovery. People who experience psychosis often use NHS services to help them manage their difficulties and specialist psychosis services, like Early Intervention (EI) are now common. However, it is not just secondary mental health services that are important in helping to manage people with psychosis. The first paper explores the role for primary care in managing this client group and systematically reviews the UK literature from 1997 on empirically tested methods of improving the primary care management of this group. The evidence in support of specific methods targeting service users, primary care staff and service organisation remain inconclusive and further research and development of initiatives is needed. This paper critically evaluates the methodological limitations of the research and considers the implications for practice and future research. The second paper reports on an empirical investigation into the experiences of recovery in people who have experienced their first-episode of psychosis. Eight participants were recruited from a UK Early Intervention Service and interviewed using a semi-structured method. Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis was used and seven themes related to recovery emerged from the service users’ accounts. The themes are discussed in relation to the clinical implications for EI services and the methodological limitations and future research directions are considered. The third paper reflects on the experiences of conducting empirical research whilst working clinically within the same service. The impact on the research-practitioner, service user-participant and wider service implications are discussed