Factors Consumers Identify as Important to Recovery from Schizophrenia

Objective: The purpose of the present study was to provide a consumer perspective on recovery from schizophrenia and to identify what consumers considered important in this journey, compare it to the literature and also to provide a consumer definition of recovery. Methods: A four-part qualitative process was developed following consultation with two consumer focus groups. Fifty-seven people who identified themselves as in recovery participated in the study. The interviews were tape-recorded and thematic analysis used to identify the common themes used by the participants. Results: The most frequently reported category related to an active sense of self, with the person's determination to get better, manage their illness and realising their need to help themselves the most common subcategories. Conclusions: The findings of the present study are discussed in relation to the literature on recovery from mental illness and their implications for the provision of services.