Abstract
This study explored perceptions of recovery among youth with first-episode psychosis (FEP). A qualitative research methodology was used. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 29 young people receiving early intervention for psychosis in Montreal, Canada and Chennai, India. Interviews were transcribed verbatim, and data was analyzed using AtlasTi.9, a qualitative software. Two researchers (including Singh) used content analysis and identified preliminary themes around transformation in self, future aspirations, and recovery. Across the two sites, participants’ narratives centered around life rather than being illness-focused, and views of recovery included functional, social, and symptomatic aspects. Participants were hopeful with future aspirations related to education, work, friendships, and family relationships. A key theme was identified around transformations within the self (e.g., sense of agency and self-determination) and the factors facilitating such transformation, including the experience of psychosis. Differences emerged across the sites in the prioritizing of certain aspirations (e.g., financial stability, better job and housing, and marriage in Chennai) and specific facilitators (e.g., frequent mentions of “taking one step at a time” in Montreal). Our work highlights the value of narratives in critically unpacking notions around agency and recovery, and how they are shaped by context. Across contexts, working with these notions can promote recovery journeys of individual patients and create holistic, recovery-affirming care systems.
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