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Psychological recovery is typically measured in improving access to psychological therapies (IAPT) services as the reduction of symptoms on routine outcome measures (ROMs). However, conceptualisations of psychological recovery vary, and there are concerns that ROMs may not be suitable for measuring recovery from complex mental health difficulties. To gain insight into psychological recovery and measurement in clinical practice. A qualitative study at a step-4 IAPT service in the North of England. Eight clinicians contributed to focus groups, and 10 service users were later interviewed individually. Factors that informed four congruent and interacting themes of recovery were identified among participants as an ongoing personal process, of intra-therapeutic and extra-therapeutic factors impacting on recovery in helpful and unhelpful ways, and the need for idiographic long-term recovery measures. The functional and long-term nature of recovery and the socio-economic context for recovery were considered particularly crucial. The need for idiographic long-term recovery measures to support the ongoing process of recovery was reported in the majority of instances. Study findings mirrored existing recovery and outcome measurement literature, provided new evidence in relation to recovery from complex mental health difficulties, and made recommendations for future research and clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The concept of recovery is contested throughout the existing literature and in mental health services. Little research exists that gives voice to service user perspectives of recovery. Aim: This paper explores how service users in two recovery oriented services run by the National Health Service in North West England talked about recovery and what it meant to them. Method: 14 service users accessing these services took part in semi-structured qualitative interviews focusing on the concept of recovery. Data were analysed using an interpretive phenomenological analysis approach. Results: Service users talked about recovery as a dynamic, day to day process as well as an outcome; specifically related to being discharged from inpatient settings. A number of factors including relationships and medication were cited to have the potential to make or break recovery. Conclusions: The study highlights the continued dominance of the biomedical model in mental health services. Service users appear to have internalised staff and services’ understanding of recovery perhaps unsurprisingly given the power differential in these relationships. Implications for clinical practice are explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In England, personal budgets are offered to eligible people with severe mental health problems to enable them to purchase what is helpful for their quality of life or recovery. However, in-depth insight into people's own perceptions of the outcomes is lacking. Aims: To investigate people's own reporting of outcomes from using personal budgets in relation to social care needs arising from severe mental health problems. Method: A convenience sample of 47 individuals receiving personal budgets was recruited from three English local authorities. In-depth semi-structured interviews were subject to thematic framework analysis. Results: Most participants identified positive outcomes across domains interconnected through individual life circumstances, with mental health and wellbeing, social participation and relationships, and confidence and skills most commonly reported. Some needed more support than others to identify goals and make use of the personal budget to take a more active part in the society. Conclusions: Personal budgets can enable people to achieve outcomes that are relevant to them in the context of their lives, particularly through enhancing their wellbeing and social participation. Consideration should be given to distinguishing those individuals potentially requiring more support for engagement from those who can engage more independently to identify and pursue their goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Wellbeing is an important outcome in the context of recovery from mental illness. The views of mental health professionals on wellbeing may influence their approach to supporting recovery. Aims: This study aims to explore views held by mental health staff about factors influencing their own wellbeing and that of service users with psychosis. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 14 mental health staff in South London who had worked with people with psychosis. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data and comparisons were made between staff views of wellbeing for themselves and service users. Results: Staff participants held similar conceptualisations of wellbeing for themselves and for service users. However, they suggested a differential impact on wellbeing for a number of factors, such as balance, goals and achievement, and work. Staff employed a more deficit-based perspective on wellbeing for service users and a more strengths-based view for themselves. Conclusions: Staff stated a recovery orientation in principle, but struggled to focus on service user strengths in practice. A stronger emphasis in clinical practice on amplifying strengths to foster self-management is indicated, and staff may need support to achieve this emphasis, e.g. through specific interventions and involvement of peer support workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]