Recovery from psychosis in forensic settings
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Recovery from psychosis in forensic settings: assessing staff and service user’s views using Q methodology
IRAS ID
222323
Contact name
Kim Jackson-Blott
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Cardiff University
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
There is increasing consumer and political pressure to ensure that mental health services are recovery-orientated (DoH, 2001; Shepherd et al., 2008). However, there is considerable confusion and disagreement about what recovery means and how it can best be supported (Bellack, 2006; Le Boutillier et al., 2011). Furthermore, forensic settings pose unique challenges to the recovery approach, in part, due to the potential tension between promoting personal empowerment and managing risk (Drennan & Alred, 2012; Pouncey & Lukens, 2010).
Within the recovery literature, there is a scarcity of research exploring what factors forensic service users and healthcare professionals deem important to recovery from psychosis. Different stakeholder groups (e.g. professionals and service users) often assign different priorities to the goals of treatment and recovery from mental health difficulties (Bond, 1994; Lelliot, 2000; Meddings & Perkins, 2002). Therefore, the development of a multi-perspective evidence base is paramount (Rose et al., 2006).
The aim of this study is to explore how service users and healthcare professionals view recovery from psychosis within forensic settings, and the factors that are considered important to this process. Greater understanding in this area is needed to guide recovery-orientated service delivery.
Participants will be recruited from medium and low-secure forensic units within ABMU Health Board. This study will employ Q methodology (Watts & Stenner, 2012), which integrates both qualitative and quantitative approaches, and consists of two phases of participant engagement. Phase one: healthcare professionals (e.g. psychologists, psychiatrists and nurses) will be interviewed by the lead researcher to inform the development of a Q-Set (set of statement cards). Phase two: service users & healthcare professionals will sort these cards in terms of perceived importance, and provide justification for each selection (i.e. complete the Q-Sort). Factor analysis of the Q-sort responses will then take place and the results disseminated.
REC name
Wales REC 2
REC reference
17/WA/0229
Date of REC Opinion
16 Jul 2017
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion