Recovery Research Network (RRN)

Sent 22 January

1. RRN Meetings
The date for the next meeting is 30 April 2014, Robin Murray A in the main building at the Institute of Psychiatry, Denmark Hill, London SE5 8AF.

Minutes from last meeting (6 November 2013) as well as presentations, are all available on the website https://www.researchintorecovery.com/rrn/meeting-presentation-archive

2. RRN membership profile
If you would like to update your entry, please email researchintorecovery@kcl.ac.uk. The membership profile will be circulated with each RRN monthly email, but not put on our website.

3. Conferences & Events
i) 4th international WHO-CC meeting (Lille, France), 30- 31 January 2014 – in Lille, France. The World Health Organisation Collaborating Centre for research and training in mental health (WHO-CC, Lille, France) and WHO Europe organise a European congress about empowerment of mental health users. The conference aims to: present experiences of good practices Mental Health, discuss the 19 indicators of WHO / EC Partnership Project on Empowerment and Mental Health Advocacy, and promote the use of these relevant indicators.  For more information see ‘Programme congress OMS’

ii) Weekend Seminars in Spring 2014: An Extended Introduction to the Open Dialogue Approach with members of the Open Dialogue team and Jaakko Seikkula. 15-16 March, 3-4 May, & 31 May-1 June  2014 from 10am-5pm. Members of the Open Dialogue team from Western Lapland will be visiting the UK to introduce the Open Dialogue approach in some depth at the Round Chapel in Hackney, London. These seminars are likely to be of interest to those who are currently working in psychiatric services, family therapists, psychotherapists and counsellors, NHS managers and policy makers, people with lived experience of psychosis/mental distress, carers/family members, and those who are interested in the application of philosophical principles in mental health services. For more information and to book a place go to http://opendialogueapproach.co.uk/events/weekend-seminars-in-spring-2014/

iii) Refocus on Recovery 2014, 2-3 June 2014, New Hunts House, London Bridge, England. See the website www.researchintorecovery.com/conference2014 Abstract submission deadline 31 January 2014 (2weeks)!  

iv) Qualitative Research on Mental Health, 2-4^th September 2014, Chania, Greece.  Key note speakers are Michaela Amering, Ole Dreier and Laurence Kirmayer.  For more information see website http://www.symvoli.gr/conference/qrmh2014/page/abstracts  

4. Papers/publications
The monthly email includes new publications by RRN members which may be of wider interest.  Please send us the reference and abstract for a new publication you would like included. 

i) Solli, H., Rolvsjord, R., & Borg, M. (2013). Toward Understanding Music Therapy as a Recovery-Oriented Practice within Mental Health Care: A Meta-Synthesis of Service Users’ Experiences. Journal of Music Therapy, Vol 50, Issue 4, pp 244-273.  http://jmt.oxfordjournals.org/content/50/4/244.abstract

The findings from this meta-synthesis indicate that the provision of music therapy closely resembles recognized benefits of a recovery-oriented practice. Awareness of users’ self-determination and the development of a strength-based and contextual approach to music therapy that fosters mutual empowering relationships are recommended.

ii) Roberts, G., & Boardman, J. (2014). Becoming a recovery-oriented practitioner.  Advances in psychiatric treatment, vol. 20, 37–47 doi: 10.1192/apt.bp.112.010652 Full article here.

Professional practice explicitly focused on supporting the recovery of those it serves is broadly backed by an emerging profile of necessary knowledge, key skills and innovative collaborations, although there is no universally accepted practice ‘model’. This article outlines these components and discusses the associated need for change in the culture of provider organisations along with implementation of wider social and economic policies to support peoples’ recovery and social inclusion. This is a values led approach supported by persuasive advocacy and international endorsement but still in need of further development, systematic evaluation and confirmatory evidence.

iii)  Sue Holttum’s podcast on recovery has had thousands of hits. Made about a year ago, the podcast summarises a journal article Sue wrote for ‘Mental Health and Social Inclusion’ – http://www.emeraldinsight.com/journals.htm?issn=2042-8308&volume=16&issue=4&articleid=17068149&show=html

The article was about two papers on recovery, one by Mary Leamy and colleagues, and one by Rachel Perkins and Mike Slade. Sue’s journal article has been downloaded 128 times and she is considered a ‘high impact author’ for the journal. No doubt a number of people will also have looked up the original articles, which you can click to from the blog site. The blog site has carried a number of discussions of recovery and diagnosis with contributions from people with both professional and service user experience. It invites comments, and is called Discursive of Tunbridge Wells – http://discursiveoftunbridgewells.blogspot.co.uk/

iv) Salomon, C., & Hamilton, B. (2013) “All Roads Lead to Medication?” Qualitative Responses From an Australian First-Person Survey of Antipsychotic Discontinuation. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal, vol 36, No.3, pp160–165. Full article here

There were 98 valid surveys returned. Respondents highlighted the roles of the therapeutic alliance and health and illness explanatory models in understanding the context of discontinuation. Reported impacts of discontinuation were mixed and complex. Withdrawal syndromes were described by over half of the participants. Of the 98 respondents, 21 reported remaining antipsychotic-free at the time of survey completion. Conclusions and Implications for Practice: Participant accounts highlight the importance of context and relationships in their thinking about antipsychotic discontinuation. Although results cannot necessarily be generalized, participant descriptions of withdrawal syndromes suggest there may be a need to improve education, monitoring, and support strategies for some people during discontinuation. Shifting toward a more collaborative, transparent, and service-user-driven approach to discontinuation may help to mitigate some of the negative discontinuation impacts identified. The polarized discontinuation outcomes described highlight the individuality of every participant’s recovery journey and the need to avoid generalizing about the role of antipsychotics in care.

v) Roberts, G., & Boardman, J. (2013). Understanding ‘recovery’. Advances in psychiatric treatment, vol. 19, 400–409 doi: 10.1192/apt.bp.112.010355.  Full article here.

The principles of recovery have been supported by UK mental health policy and have been incorporated into policy in several countries worldwide. In this article we examine the ideas, principles and definitions of recovery and their origins. Personal recovery is contrasted with clinical recovery and the nature and development of the recovery movement is outlined. The principal factors influencing personal recovery are hope, control and opportunity. In an accompanying article we discuss the implications of these principles for training and practice.

Please let us know if there is anything you would like included in the next monthly email, by emailing us at researchintorecovery@kcl.ac.uk

Sent 20 February

1. RRN Meetings

The date for the next meeting will be 30 April 2014, 9.30am-4pm at the Institute of Psychiatry, Denmark Hill, London SE5 8AF. If you would like to present at this meeting please email researchintorecovery@kcl.ac.uk

2. RRN membership profiles

If you would like to update your entry please email researchintorecovery@kcl.ac.uk. The Membership Profile will be circulated with each RRN monthly email, but not put on our web-site. New members can now join via the website https://www.researchintorecovery.com/rrn/join

3. Conferences & Events

i) Weekend Seminars in Spring 2014: An Extended Introduction to the Open Dialogue Approach with members of the Open Dialogue team and Jaakko Seikkula. 15-16 March, 3-4 May, & 31 May-1 June  2014 from 10am-5pm. Members of the Open Dialogue team from Western Lapland will be visiting the UK to introduce the Open Dialogue approach in some depth at the Round Chapel in Hackney, London. These seminars are likely to be of interest to those who are currently working in psychiatric services, family therapists, psychotherapists and counsellors, NHS managers and policy makers, people with lived experience of psychosis/mental distress, carers/family members, and those who are interested in the application of philosophical principles in mental health services. For more information and to book a place go to http://opendialogueapproach.co.uk/events/weekend-seminars-in-spring-2014/

ii) Refocus on Recovery 2014, 2-3 June 2014, New Hunts House, London Bridge, England. See attached 2^nd announcement flyer and the website www.researchintorecovery.com/conference2014. Early Bird deadline 28 February 2014. 

iii) Qualitative Research on Mental Health, 2-4^th September 2014, Chania, Greece.  Key note speakers are Michaela Amering, Ole Dreier and Laurence Kirmayer.  For more information see website http://www.symvoli.gr/conference/qrmh2014/page/abstracts  

4. Papers/publications

The monthly email includes new publications by RRN members which may be of wider interest.  Please send us the reference and abstract for a new publication you would like included. 

i) Slade, M., Amering, M., Farkas, M., Hamilton, B., O’Hagan, M., Panther, G., Perkins, R., Shepherd, G., Tse, S., & Whitley, R. (2014). Uses and abuses of recovery: implementing recovery-oriented practices in mental health systems. World Psychiatry, 13, 12–20. (full article click here)

An understanding of recovery as a personal and subjective experience has emerged within mental health systems. This meaning of recovery now underpins mental health policy in many countries. Developing a focus on this type of recovery will involve transformation within mental health systems. Human systems do not easily transform. In this paper, we identify seven mis-uses (“abuses”) of the concept of recovery: recovery is the latest model; recovery does not apply to “my” patients; services can make people recover through effective treatment; compulsory detention and treatment aid recovery; a recovery orientation means closing services; recovery is about making people independent and normal; and contributing to society happens only after the person is recovered. We then identify ten empirically-validated interventions which support recovery, by targeting key recovery processes of connectedness, hope, identity, meaning and empowerment (the CHIME framework). The ten interventions are peer support workers, advance directives, wellness recovery action planning, illness management and recovery, REFOCUS, strengths model, recovery colleges or recovery education programs, individual placement and support, supported housing, and mental health trialogues. Finally, three scientific challenges are identified: broadening cultural understandings of recovery, implementing organizational transformation, and promoting citizenship.

ii) Brohan, E., Henderson, C., Slade, M., & Thornicroft, G. (2014). Development and preliminary evaluation of a decision aid for disclosure of mental illness to employers. Patient Education and Counseling 94, 238–242. (full article click here)

Many mental health service users delay disclosing to employers or never do so due to previous experience of, or anticipation of discrimination. However, non-disclosure precludes requesting ‘reasonable workplace adjustments’. Service users may experience conflicting needs and values in deciding whether to disclose. No evidence-based interventions exist to support this decision. Methods: A decision aid (CORAL, or COnceal or ReveAL) to support mental health service users in reaching disclosure decisions was developed and subjected to preliminary evaluation (n = 15). Results: The majority found the decision aid quick (60%) and relevant (60%) and would recommend it (80%). Eighty percent reported that they would definitely or probably use it in making disclosure decisions. Forty percent each were positive or neutral on its ease of use. Semi-structured interviews revealed a demand for more information on the legal implications of disclosure. The mean level of ‘decisional conflict’ regarding disclosure reduced from 52.0 to 35.5 and mean Stage of Decision-making Scale score from 4.6 to 4.3. Conclusion: The results suggest that the CORAL decision aid is feasible, relevant and valuable in supporting decisions about disclosing a mental illness to an employer. Practice implications: The decision aid could be deployed in routine care without significant resource implications.

Please let us know if there is anything you would like included in the next monthly email, by emailing us at researchintorecovery@kcl.ac.uk

Sent 18 March

1. RRN Meetings

The date for the next meeting will be 30 April 2014, 9.30am-4pm at the Institute of Psychiatry, Denmark Hill, London SE5 8AF. If you would like to present at this meeting please email researchintorecovery@kcl.ac.uk

2. RRN membership profiles

If you would like to update your entry please email researchintorecovery@kcl.ac.uk. The Membership Profile will be circulated with each RRN monthly email, but not put on our web-site. New members can now join via the website https://www.researchintorecovery.com/rrn/join

3. Conferences & Events

i) Weekend Seminars in Spring 2014: An Extended Introduction to the Open Dialogue Approach with members of the Open Dialogue team and Jaakko Seikkula. 15-16 March, 3-4 May, & 31 May-1 June  2014 from 10am-5pm. Members of the Open Dialogue team from Western Lapland will be visiting the UK to introduce the Open Dialogue approach in some depth at the Round Chapel in Hackney, London. These seminars are likely to be of interest to those who are currently working in psychiatric services, family therapists, psychotherapists and counsellors, NHS managers and policy makers, people with lived experience of psychosis/mental distress, carers/family members, and those who are interested in the application of philosophical principles in mental health services. For more information and to book a place go to http://opendialogueapproach.co.uk/events/weekend-seminars-in-spring-2014/

ii) Qualitative Research on Mental Health, 2-4^th September 2014, Chania, Greece.  Key note speakers are Michaela Amering, Ole Dreier and Laurence Kirmayer.  For more information see website http://www.symvoli.gr/conference/qrmh2014/page/abstracts  

4. Papers/publications

The monthly email includes new publications by RRN members which may be of wider interest.  Please send us the reference and abstract for a new publication you would like included. 

i) Billsborough, J., Mailey, P., Hicks, A., Sayers, R., Smith, R., Clewett, N., Griffiths, C.A., Larsen, J. (2014) ‘Listen, empower us and take action now!’: reflexive-collaborative exploration of support needs in bipolar disorder when ‘going up’ and ‘going down’, Journal of Mental Health 23(1): 9-14. Full article available here http://informahealthcare.com/doi/abs/10.3109/09638237.2013.815331

Background: People with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder experience mood fluctuation from depression to mania, and their support needs may differ during these fluctuations. Aims: To investigate support needed during periods of mania and depression, and when ‘going up’ or ‘going down’. Method: Five service user researchers were supported in a reflexive-collaborative approach to undertake and analyse semi-structured interviews with 16 people with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder and 11 people providing informal support. Results: Support needs differed when becoming manic or depressed. When manic, people needed a calming approach and encouragement to avoid overly stimulating activities. When depressed, positive activity and engaging in everyday life routines were helpful. Three core themes determined the effectiveness of support: (1) being listened to with active engagement through affirmation and encouragement, (2) empowerment through development of personal coping and self-management strategies, and (3) early action and understanding of early warning signs to respond to developing crises and protect wellbeing. Conclusion: Periods of depression or mania, and lesser ‘ups’ and ‘downs’, all require different support needs. Active listening and engagement, facilitating empowerment and appropriate early action are crucial elements of effective support.

ii) Devon Partnership Trust NHS has peer produced two publications that will be used in the Trust and is being sent to all teams, these are:

Putting recovery at the heart of all we do

Putting wellbeing at the heart of our recovery

iii) Hans Petter Solliab & Randi Rolvsjordb. (2014) “The Opposite of Treatment”: A qualitative study of how patients diagnosed with psychosis experience music therapy. Nordic Journal of Music Therapy.  Available online here http://www.tandfonline.com/eprint/rrBrtGmd6sUVpFUQJYZz/full  

Previous research studies regarding music therapy and severe mental illness have mainly adopted quantitative methodologies in order to study the effectiveness of music therapy interventions. Studies that have explored service users’ experiences of participation in music therapy are small in number, and almost nonexistent in the field of psychosis. This study aimed to explore how mental health patients with a diagnosis of psychosis experienced participation in music therapy, in general, and more specifically how they experienced music therapy in relation to their current mental state and life situation. Nine inpatients with psychosis were interviewed using a semi-structured interview focusing on the participants’ experiences of music therapy in individual sessions, groups, and performances. Through the use of interpretative phenomenological analysis, four super-ordinate themes central to the participants’ experiences were found: freedom, contact, well-being, and symptom reduction. Based on the findings, mental health recovery, positive mental health, and agency are proposed as constituting a better framework for music therapy in mental healthcare than a primary focus on symptom remission and functional improvement.

iv) Shepherd, G., Boardman, J., Rinaldi, M., & Roberts G. (2014). IMROC briefing paper Supporting recovery in mental health services: Quality and Outcomes. Full article available here http://www.centreformentalhealth.org.uk/pdfs/ImROC_briefing8_quality_and_outcomes.pdf

The development of mental health services which will support the recovery of those using them, their families, friends and carers is now a central theme in national and international policy (DH/HMG, 2011; Slade, 2009). In order to support these developments we need clear, empirically informed statements of what constitutes high-quality services and how these will lead to key recovery outcomes. This is what the present paper aims to do.

5. Call for papers

i) Special issue of British Journal of Social Work: Social Work and Recovery

Recovery is a process whereby individuals or families restore rights, roles, and responsibilities lost through illness, disability, or other social problems. It requires hope and empowerment, supported by a vision for a different way of being. Recovery is a concept at the heart of social work practice, though the profession is frequently following others in articulating and evidencing good practice. Yet despite the theoretical basis of recovery finding synergy with social work, there is limited research informing social workers on how best to intervene effectively and to influence the social factors enabling or impeding recovery. This Special Issue will publish internationally relevant contributions to social work research and thinking about recovery across multiple social work fields. Deadline for abstracts: 9th May. Click here for more information.

Please let us know if there is anything you would like included in the next monthly email, by emailing us at researchintorecovery@kcl.ac.uk

Sent 28 April

1. RRN Meetings

The date for the next meeting will be 30 April 2014, 9.30am-4pm at the Institute of Psychiatry, Denmark Hill, London SE5 8AF. If you would like to present at this meeting please email researchintorecovery@kcl.ac.uk

2. RRN membership profiles

If you would like to update your entry please email researchintorecovery@kcl.ac.uk. The Membership Profile will be circulated with each RRN monthly email, but not put on our web-site. New members can now join via the website https://www.researchintorecovery.com/rrn/join

3. Conferences & Events

i) Weekend Seminars in Spring 2014: An Extended Introduction to the Open Dialogue Approach with members of the Open Dialogue team and Jaakko Seikkula. 15-16 March, 3-4 May, & 31 May-1 June  2014 from 10am-5pm. Members of the Open Dialogue team from Western Lapland will be visiting the UK to introduce the Open Dialogue approach in some depth at the Round Chapel in Hackney, London. These seminars are likely to be of interest to those who are currently working in psychiatric services, family therapists, psychotherapists and counsellors, NHS managers and policy makers, people with lived experience of psychosis/mental distress, carers/family members, and those who are interested in the application of philosophical principles in mental health services. For more information and to book a place go to http://opendialogueapproach.co.uk/events/weekend-seminars-in-spring-2014/

ii) Saturday 7th June 2014, The Mechanics Institute, 103 Princess Street, (Major St Entrance), Manchester, M1 6DD, 9:30 – 16:30 The Reality and Impact of Paranoia: The Ten Year Anniversary.  Modern living and lifestyles in the 21st century have ensured that paranoia has become established as a common phenomenon. It has become far more common than medical explanations alone can explain especially when CCTV cameras, media coverage and perceived threats can contribute towards fears that can lead to paranoia. One in four of us frequently have paranoid thoughts and these can escalate causing mental health distress. This event is intended to be a stimulating and thought provoking ten-year anniversary conference to examine Paranoia. Peter Bullimore and Professor John Read will lead the event alongside several international renowned speakers and people with lived experience of extreme paranoia. All of these are keen to share their knowledge and expertise on paranoia. It promises to be a celebration of knowledge and ideas and a festival of explanations to demystify paranoia. National Paranoia Network: http://www.nationalparanoianetwork.org/

Details of conference and booking form at: http://www.nationalparanoianetwork.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=75:10th-anniversary-conference&catid=11:newsletter-articles&Itemid=108

iii) Qualitative Research on Mental Health, 2-4^th September 2014, Chania, Greece.  Key note speakers are Michaela Amering, Ole Dreier and Laurence Kirmayer.  For more information see website http://www.symvoli.gr/conference/qrmh2014/page/abstracts  

4. Papers/publications

The monthly email includes new publications by RRN members which may be of wider interest.  Please send us the reference and abstract for a new publication you would like included. 

i) Priebe, S., Omer, S., Giacco, D., & Slade, M. (2014). Resource-oriented therapeutic models in psychiatry: conceptual review. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 204, 256–261. Full article here

Like other medical specialties, psychiatry has traditionally sought to develop treatments targeted at ameliorating a deficit of the patient. However, there are different therapeutic models that focus on utilising patients’ personal and social resources instead of ameliorating presumed deficits. A synopsis of such models might help to guide further research and improve therapeutic interventions. Aims: To conduct a conceptual review of resource-oriented therapeutic models in psychiatry, in order to identify their shared characteristics. Method: The literature was searched to identify a range of resource oriented therapeutic models, particularly for patients with severe mental illness. Key texts for each model were analysed using a narrative approach to synthesise the concepts and their characteristics. Results: Ten models were included: defriending, client-centred therapy, creative music therapy, open dialogue, peer support workers, positive psychotherapy, self-help groups, solution focused therapy, systemic family therapy and therapeutic communities. Six types of resources were utilised: social relationships, patients’ decision-making ability, experiential knowledge, patients’ individual strengths, recreational activities and self-actualising tendencies. Social relationships are a key resource in all the models, including relationships with professionals, peers, friends and family. Two relationship dimensions – reciprocity and expertise – differed across the models. Conclusions: The review suggests that a range of different therapeutic models in psychiatry address resources rather than deficits. In various ways, they all utilise social relationships to induce therapeutic change. A better understanding of how social relationships affect mental health may inform the development and application of resource-oriented approaches.

5. Call for papers

i) Special issue of British Journal of Social Work: Social Work and Recovery

Recovery is a process whereby individuals or families restore rights, roles, and responsibilities lost through illness, disability, or other social problems. It requires hope and empowerment, supported by a vision for a different way of being. Recovery is a concept at the heart of social work practice, though the profession is frequently following others in articulating and evidencing good practice. Yet despite the theoretical basis of recovery finding synergy with social work, there is limited research informing social workers on how best to intervene effectively and to influence the social factors enabling or impeding recovery. This Special Issue will publish internationally relevant contributions to social work research and thinking about recovery across multiple social work fields. Deadline for abstracts: 9th May. Click here for more information.

Please let us know if there is anything you would like included in the next monthly email, by emailing us at researchintorecovery@kcl.ac.uk

Sent 24 June

1. RRN Meetings

From the meeting held on 30 April 2014, the minutes and presentations are available on the website https://www.researchintorecovery.com/rrn/meeting-presentation-archive  

The next RRN meeting will be held some time in Autumn 2014.

If you would like to present at a future meeting please email researchintorecovery@kcl.ac.uk

2. RRN membership profiles

Updated Membership Profile attached. If you would like to update your entry please email text to researchintorecovery@kcl.ac.uk. This Membership Profile will be circulated with each RRN monthly email, but not put on our web-site.

New members can now join via the website https://www.researchintorecovery.com/rrn/join

3. Conferences & Events

i) Qualitative Research on Mental Health, 2-4^th September 2014, Chania, Greece.  Key note speakers are Michaela Amering, Ole Dreier and Laurence Kirmayer.  For more information see website http://www.symvoli.gr/conference/qrmh2014/page/abstracts  

ii) The University of Nottingham are recruiting for the Masters in Recovery and Social Inclusion with Theo Stickley and Julie Repper (Flyer attached). Contributors to the teaching have included: Rachel Perkins, Liz Sayce, Peter Bates, Miles Rinaldi and of course Julie Repper and Theo Stickley. A first degree is not always required. Students can exit with a Certificate, Diploma or Master’s degree. The next intake is in September, 2014. For further information email: theo.stickley@nottingham.ac.uk

4. Papers/publications

The monthly email includes new publications by RRN members which may be of wider interest.  Please send us the reference and abstract for a new publication you would like included. 

i) Holttum, S., & Huet, V. (2014). The MATISSE Trial–A Critique – Does Art Therapy Really Have Nothing to Offer People With a Diagnosis of Schizophrenia? Sage journals link here http://sgo.sagepub.com/content/4/2/2158244014532930

U.K. national guidelines for the treatment of schizophrenia recommend art therapy among other approaches. However, a recent major trial called MATISSE (Multicenter evaluation of Art Therapy in Schizophrenia: Systematic Evaluation) suggests that art therapy may not be helpful. The purpose of the present study was to explore reasons for the MATISSE trial findings. A critical review of the MATISSE trial drawing on six papers reporting on the trial and its processes was performed. The MATISSE trial appeared to have weak conceptualization of the mechanisms for change, lack of piloting, incomplete process and subgroup analyses, and inappropriate assumptions about the generalizability of findings. The MATISSE trial’s conclusion that art therapy is of no value to people with a diagnosis of schizophrenia is unwarranted. More account should be taken of extant quality guidelines for complex interventions, including proposed change mechanisms, piloting, process analyses, variations in practice and contexts, and the effect of randomization on generalizability.

ii) Copeland, J., Thornicroft, G., Bird, V., Bowis, J., & Slade, Mike. (2014). Global priorities of civil society for mental health services: findings from a 53 country survey. World Psychiatry 13:2, June 2014 pp198-200. Full article here http://www.spu.org.uy/wp/World%20Psychiatry_June%202014.pdf  

iii) Thornicroft, G., & Slade, M. (2014). New trends in assessing the outcomes of mental health interventions. World Psychiatry 13 pp118–124. Full article here http://www.spu.org.uy/wp/World%20Psychiatry_June%202014.pdf  

Assessing the outcomes of interventions in mental health care is both important and challenging. It is important because producing significant outcomes, i.e., health gains attributable to an intervention (1), is the main goal of mental health services. Other important attributes of an intervention, such as accessibility, acceptability, efficiency and cost effectiveness, need only to be considered where the intervention produces significant outcomes. Assessing outcomes is also challenging, because choosing methods, outcome domains and outcome measures all involve the balancing of conceptual, ethical and clinical considerations (2,3). The aim of this paper is to propose a taxonomy of the decisions that clinicians and researchers need to consider when evaluating outcomes. Our taxonomy has eight components, each of which involves making explicit underpinning assumptions. We therefore frame these components as decisions.

iv) Leamy, M., Clarke, E., Le Boutillier, C., Bird, V., Janosik, M., Sabas, K., Riley, G., Williams, J., & Slade, M. (2014). Implementing a Complex Intervention to Support Personal Recovery: A Qualitative Study Nested within a Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial. PLoS ONE 9(5): e97091. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0097091 Full text available here http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0097091

Objective: To investigate staff and trainer perspectives on the barriers and facilitators to implementing a complex intervention to help staff support the recovery of service users with a primary diagnosis of psychosis in community mental health teams. Design: Process evaluation nested within a cluster randomised controlled trial (RCT). Participants: 28 interviews with mental health care staff, 3 interviews with trainers, 4 focus groups with intervention teams and 28 written trainer reports. Setting: 14 community-based mental health teams in two UK sites (one urban, one semi-rural) who received the intervention. Results: The factors influencing the implementation of the intervention can be organised under two over-arching themes: Organisational readiness for change and Training effectiveness. Organisational readiness for change comprised three subthemes: NHS Trust readiness; Team readiness; and Practitioner readiness. Training effectiveness comprised three subthemes: Engagement strategies; Delivery style and Modelling recovery principles. Conclusions: Three findings can inform future implementation and evaluation of complex interventions. First, the underlying intervention model predicted that three areas would be important for changing practice: staff skill development; intention to implement; and actual implementation behaviour. This study highlighted the importance of targeting the transition from practitioners’ intent to implement to actual implementation behaviour, using experiential learning and target setting. Second, practitioners make inferences about organisational commitment by observing the allocation of resources, Knowledge Performance Indicators and service evaluation outcome measures. These need to be aligned with recovery values, principles and practice. Finally, we recommend the use of organisational readiness tools as an inclusion criteria for selecting both organisations and teams in cluster RCTs. We believe this would maximise the likelihood of adequate implementation and hence reduce waste in research expenditure.

v) Schrank, B., Riches, S., Coggins, T., Rashid, T., Tylee, A., & Slade, M. (2014). WELLFOCUS PPT – modified positive psychotherapy to improve well-being in psychosis: study protocol for a pilot randomised controlled trial. BioMed full text available here http://www.trialsjournal.com/content/15/1/203 

Background: The promotion of well-being is an important goal of recovery oriented mental health services. No structured, evidence-based intervention exists that aims to increase the well-being in people with severe mental illness such as psychosis. Positive psychotherapy (PPT) is a promising intervention for this goal. Standard PPT was adapted for use with people with psychosis in the UK following the Medical Research Council framework for developing and testing complex interventions, resulting in the WELLFOCUS Model describing the intended impact of WELLFOCUS PPT. This study aims to test the WELLFOCUS Model, by piloting the intervention, trial processes, and evaluation strategy. Methods/Design: This study is a non-blinded pragmatic pilot RCT comparing WELLFOCUS PPT provided as an 11-session group therapy in addition to treatment as usual to treatment as usual alone. Inclusion criteria are adults (aged 18–65 years) with a main diagnosis of psychosis who use mental health services. A target sample of 80 service users with psychosis are recruited from mental health services across the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust. Participants are randomised in blocks to the intervention and control group. WELLFOCUS PPT is provided to groups by specifically trained and supervised local therapists and members of the research team. Assessments are conducted before randomisation and after the group intervention. The primary outcome measure is well-being assessed by the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale. Secondary outcomes include good feelings, symptom relief, connectedness, hope, self-worth, empowerment, and meaning. Process evaluation using data collected during the group intervention, post-intervention individual interviews and focus groups with participants, and interviews with trial therapists will complement quantitative outcome data. Discussion: This study will provide data on the feasibility of the intervention and identify necessary adaptations. It will allow optimisation of trial processes and inform the evaluation strategy, including sample size calculation, for a future definitive RCT.

5. Other news

a) The Refocus on Recovery 2014 conference was a great success, with 404 attenders from 23 countries. Overall, 94% of attenders who gave feedback were satisfied with the scientific content, with many positive comments received. You can see the programme and some of the talks at https://www.researchintorecovery.com/recovery-resources/refocus-recovery-conference-archive

b) Mike writes: some sadder news – our Recovery Research Network administrator Becks Leslie is moving on to new things from this month. She will be greatly missed, and I thank her for all her work in building the network.

1.RRN Meetings

The next RRN meeting will be held in Autumn 2014.

If you would like to present at a future meeting please email researchintorecovery@kcl.ac.uk

2.RRN membership profile

Updated membership profile attached. If you would like to update your entry please email text to researchintorecovery@kcl.ac.uk. This Membership Profile will be circulated with each RRN monthly email, but not put on our web-site.

New members can now join via the website https://www.researchintorecovery.com/join

3.Conferences & Events

i) Seminar from Sweden: Wednesday, 8 October 2014 Room A254 13.00-17.00

University of Hertfordshire, College Lane, Hatfield AL10 9AB

a.The Stockholm Follow-up Study of Users Diagnosed with Psychosis (SUPP): Alain Topor, Anne Denhov and Gunnel Andresson Collins

b.How does social services manage the care of people who suffer from severe mental illness and drug and alcohol abuse? An outline of a project in the Stockholm region: Katarina Piuva and David Matcheck

Please register your wish to attend with Dtr. Audrey Kempson (a.kempson@herts.ac.uk) by 22^nd September

ii) Closing the gap between research and policy in mental health

11th ENMESH Conference, Málaga. 1-3 October 2015. More information at http://www.enmeshmalaga2015.com

4.Papers/publications

Bird, V., Leamy, M. Twe, J., Le Boutillier, C., Williams. J., Slade, M.

(2014) Fit for purpose? Validation of a conceptual framework for personal recovery with current mental health consumers. Australian &New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, vol. 48(7) 644-653.

doi: 10.1177/0004867413520046

Abstract

Objective: Mental health services in the UK, Australia and other Anglophone countries have moved towards supporting personal recovery as a primary orientation. To provide an empirically grounded foundation to identify and evaluate recovery-oriented interventions, we previously published a conceptual framework of personal recovery based on a systematic review and narrative synthesis of existing models. Our Objective was to test the validity and relevance of this framework for people currently using mental health services.

Method: Seven focus groups were conducted with 48 current mental health consumers in three NHS trusts across England, as part of the REFOCUS Trial. Consumers were asked about the meaning and their experience of personal recovery. Deductive and inductive thematic analysis applying a constant comparison approach was used to analyse the data. The analysis aimed to explore the validity of the categories within the conceptual framework, and to highlight any areas of difference between the conceptual framework and the themes generated from new data collected from the focus groups.

Results: Both the inductive and deductive analysis broadly validated the conceptual framework, with the super-ordinate categories. Connectedness, Hope and optimism, Identity, Meaning and purpose, and Empowerment (CHIME) evidence in the analysis. Three areas of difference were, however, apprnt in the inductive analysis. These included practice support; a greater emphasis on issues around diagnosis and medication; and scepticism surrounding recovery.

Conclusions: The study suggests that the conceptual framework of personal recovery provides a defensible theoretical base for clinical and research purposes which is valid for use with current consumers. However, the three areas of difference further stress the individual nature of recovery and the need for an understanding of the population and context under investigation.

Slade, M. Jordan, H., Clarke, E., Kaliniecka, H., Arnold, K., Fiorillo, A., Giacco, D., Luciano, M. Egerhazi, A., Nagy, M., Krogsgaard Bording, M., Ostermark Sorensoen, H., Rossler, W., Kawhol, W., Puschner, B., and the CEDAR Study Group (2014)

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to develop and evaluate a brief quantitative five-language measure of involvement and satisfaction in clinical decision-making (CDIS) – with versions for patients (CDIS-P) and staff (CDIS-S) – for use in mental health services.

Methods: An English CDIS was developed by reviewing existing measure, focus groups, semistructured interviews and piloting. Translations into Danish, German, Hungarian and Italian followed the International Society for Pharmaccoeconomics and Outcome Research (ISPOR) Task Force principles of good practice for translation and cultural adaptation. Psychometric evaluation involved testing the measure in secondary mental health services in Aalborg, Debrecen, London, ||Naples, Ulm and Zurich.

Results: After appraising 14 measures, the Control Reference Scale and Satisfaction with Decision-making English-language scales were modified and evaluated in interviews (n=9), focus groups (n=22) and piloting (n=16). Translations ere validated through focus groups (n=38) and piloting (n=61). A total of 443 service users and 403 paired staff completed CDIS. The Satisfaction sub-scale had internal consistency of 0.89 (0.86-089 after item-level deletion) for staff and 0.90 (087-0.90) for service users, both continuous and categorical (utility) versions were associated with symptomatology and both staff-rated and service user rated therapeutic alliance (showing convergent validity), and not with social disability (showing divergent validity), and satisfaction predicted staff-rated (OR 2.43, 95% CI 1.54-3.83 continuous, OR 5.77, 95 CI 1.10-8.94 utility) decision implementation two months later. The involvement sub-scale had appropriate distribution and no floor or ceiling effects, was associated with stage of recovery, functioning and quality of life (staff only) (showing convergent validity), and not with symptomatology or social disability (showing divergent validity), and staff-rated passive involvement by the service user predicted implementation (OR 3.55, 95%CI 1.53-8.24). Relationships remained after adjusting for clustering by staff.

Conclusions: CDIS demonstrates adequate internal consistency, no evidence of item redundancy, appropriate distribution, and face, content, convergent, divergent and predictive validity. It can recommended for research and clinical use. CDIS-P and CDIS-S in all 3 five languages can be downloaded at www.cedar-net.eu/instrumentsl

Sweeney, A., Fahmy, S., Morant, N., Lloyd-Evans, B., Osborn, D., Burgess, E., Gilburt, H., McCabe, R., Slade, M. Johnson, S. (2014) The Relationship between Therapeutic Alliance and Service User Satisfaction in Mental Health Inpatient Wards and Crisis House Alternatives: A Cross-Sectional Study. PLOSone 07/2014 vol 9, issue 7, e100153 (www.plosone.org, open access).

Abstract

Background: Poor service user experiences are often reported on mental health inpatient wards. Crisis houses are an alternative, but evidence is limited. This paper investigates therapeutic alliances in acute wards and crisis houses, exploring how far stronger therapeutic alliance may underlie greater client satisfaction in crisis houses.

Methods and Findings: Mixed-methods were used. In the quantitative component, 108 crisis house and 247 acute ward service users responded to measures of satisfaction, therapeutic relationships, informal peer support, recovery and negative events experienced during the admission. Linear regressions were conducted to estimate the association between service settings and measures, and to model the factors associated with satisfaction. Qualitative interviews exploring therapeutic alliances were conducted with service users and staff in each setting and analysed thematically.

Results: We found therapeutic alliances, service user satisfaction and informal peer support were greater in crisis houses than on acute wards, whilst self-rated recovery and numbers of negative events were lower. Adjusted multivariable analyses suggest that therapeutic relationships, informal peer support and negative experiences related to staff may be important factors in accounting for greater satisfaction in crisis houses. Qualitative results suggest factors that influence therapeutic alliance include service user perception of basic human qualities such as kindness and empathy in staff and, at service level, the extent of loss of liberty and autonomy.

Conclusions and Implications: We found that service users experience better therapeutic relationships and higher satisfaction in crisis houses compared to acute wards, although we cannot exclude the possibility that differences in service user characteristics contribute to this. This finding provides some support for the expansion of crisis house provision. Further research is needed to investigate why acute ward service users experience a lack of compassion and humanity from ward staff and how this can be changed.

Brohan, E., Evans-Lacko S., Henderson, C., Murray, M. Slade, M., and Thornicroft, G.  (2014) Disclosure of a mental health problem in the employment context: qualitative study of beliefs and experiences. Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences, 09/2014.

doi: 10.1017/S204576013000310

Link: http://journals.cambridge.org/abstract S20145796023000310

Abstract:

Aims. Decisions regarding disclosure of a mental health problem are complex and can involve reconciling conflicting needs and values. This article provides a qualitative account of the beliefs and experiences of mental health service users regarding disclosure in employment contexts.

Methods. Total sample 45 individuals were interviewed in two study phases. In phase one, semi-structured interviews were carried out with 15 mental health service users. The transcripts were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) . In phase two, identified themes were further explored through interviews with mental health service users (n=30) in three employment contexts: in paid employment (n=10); in study or voluntary work (n=10); and currently unemployed (n=10). These were analysed using directed content analysis.

Results. Four super-ordinate themes were drawn from phase one analysis: (1) public understanding of mental health problems; (2) the employment context; (3) personal impact of labelling and (4) disclosure needs. These themes were reflective of the content of phase two interviews.

Conclusions. Greater emphasis needs to be placed on considering the societal, employment and interpersonal influences which form the basis for disclosure beliefs and experiences.

De Wet, A. Swartz, L., &Chiliza, B. (2014) Hearing their voices: The lived experience of recovery from first-episode psychosis in schizophrenia in South Africa. International Journal of Social Psychiatry 05/2014

Dio: 10.1177/0020764014535753

Link to Sage: http://isp.sagepub.com/content/early/2014/05/28/0020764014535753.abstract?rss=1

Abstract

Background: Recovery was previously regarded as a somewhat unattainable goal, and the subjective experience was de-emphasised. Lately, the person and his or her experiences are emphasised.

Material: Seven participants were interviewed regarding their experience of recovery from first-episode psychosis in schizophrenia. Data were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA).

Discussion: Support and having to care for another are possibly the greatest contributors to their recovery. Spirituality plays an important role. Stigma, found to be ingrained and pervasive, could be a barrier to recovery. The rediscovery by the participants of their abilities (re)introduced a sense of agency.

Conclusion: The narrative in the process of recovery is crucial.

5.Other news

Shula Ramon has kindly taken over doing the e-bulletin – information for the e-bulletin should go to s.ramon@herts.ac.uk

Recovery Research Network October 2014 e-bulletin

1.RRN Meetings

The next RRN meeting will be held on Friday, 28^th November 2014.

Theme: e-recovery: positive computing

How is technology facilitating, or otherwise people to develop and maintain resilience through networks and coordinated action?

Time: 10.00 a.m. to 4.15 p.m.

Venue: Institute of Mental Health Centre for Social Futures

Triumph Road, Nottingham NG7 2TU

Event organiser: Mat Rawsthorne (matrawsthrone@gmail.com)

To book, please go to:

http://eventbrite/co.uk/event/13534079797

If you would like to present at a future meeting please email researchintorecovery@kcl.ac.uk

2.RRN membership profile

The updated membership profile is attached. If you would like to update your entry please email text to researchintorecovery@kcl.ac.uk. This Membership Profile will be circulated with each RRN monthly email, but not put on our web-site.

New members can now join via the website https://www.researchintorecovery.com/join

3.Conferences & Events

Society for Qualitative Inquiry in Psychology (SQIP)

Annual conference May 14 2015

The Graduate Centre, City University New York, New York, NY.

Call for proposals: submissions by November 30 2014

Inquiries and submissions to Dr.  Joseph Gone (jgone@unimich.edu)

4.Papers/publications

Schrank, B., T.Brownell, A. Tylee, M. Slade (2014)

Positive Psychology: An Approach to Supporting Recovery in Mental Illness

East Asian Arch Psychiatry 2014:24:95-103

Abstract

Objective This paper reviews the literature on positive psychology with a special focus on people with mental illness. It describes the characteristics, critiques, and roots of positive psychology and positive psychotherapy, and summarises the existing evidence on positive psychotherapy. Positive psychology aims to refocus psychological research and practice on the positive aspects of experience, strengths, and resources. Despite a number of conceptual and applied research challenges, the field has rapidly developed since its introduction at the turn of the century.

Review Today positive psychology serves as an umbrella term to accommodate research investigating positive emotions and other positive aspects such as creativity, optimism, resilience, empathy, compassion, humour, and life satisfaction. Positive psychotherapy is a therapeutic intervention that evolved from this research. It shows promising results for reducing depression and increasing well-being in healthy people and those with depression. Positive psychology and positive psychotherapy are increasingly being applied to mental health settings, but research evidence involving people with severe mental illness is still scarce. The focus on strengths and resources in positive psychology and positive psychotherapy may be a promising way to support recovery in people with mental illness, such as depression, substance abuse disorders, and psychosis.

Conclusions More research is needed to adapt and establish these approaches and provide an evidence base for their application.

5.Other news

Shula Ramon has taken over doing the e-bulletin. But e-mails can also continue to go to researchintorecovery@kcl.ac.uk as before. 

Recovery Research Network November 2014 e-bulletin

1. RRN Meetings

The next RRN meeting will be held on Friday, 28^th November 2014.

Theme: e-recovery: positive computing

How is technology facilitating, or otherwise people to develop and maintain resilience through networks and coordinated action?

Time: 10.00 a.m. to 4.15 p.m.

Venue: Institute of Mental Health, Triumph Road, Nottingham NG7 2TU

Event organiser: Mat Rawsthorne (matrawsthrone@gmail.com)

To book, please go to:

http://eventbrite/co.uk/event/13534079797

If you would like to present at a future meeting please email researchintorecovery@kcl.ac.uk

2. RRN membership profile

The updated membership profile is attached. If you would like to update your entry please email text to researchintorecovery@kcl.ac.uk. This Membership Profile will be circulated with each RRN monthly email, but not put on our web-site.

New members can now join via the website https://www.researchintorecovery.com/join

3. Conferences & Events

Think Ahead event, 12 December 2014 (2pm-4pm)

Venue: IPPR, 4th Floor, 14 Buckingham Street, London, WC2N 6DF

This roundtable with Higher Education Institutes (HEIs) and social work academics will discuss the ongoing development of the Think Aheadprogramme, providing an opportunity to learn more about the outline design of the Think Ahead curriculum, and how HEIs can prepare to bid to be or formal academic partner. Further enquiries: Craig Thorley at c.thorley@ippr.org, or call 0207 470 6178.

Society for Qualitative Inquiry in Psychology (SQIP)

Annual conference May 14 2015

The Graduate Centre, City University New York, New York, NY.

Call for proposals: submissions by November 30 2014

Inquiries and submissions to Dr.  Joseph Gone (jgone@unimich.edu)

4. Papers/publications

Sara Meddings, Shannon Guglietti, Hazel Lambe, Diane Byrne (2014) Students Perspective : Recovery College Experience, Mental Health and Social Inclusion 18(3), 142-150.

Doi:10.1108/MHS 1-105-2014-0016

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore Recovery College from a student’s perspective and consider what contributes to making Recovery College effective.

Design/methodology/approach – The authors draw on interviews with students, course  filed forms, a detailed narrative of one of the authors experience as a student, and the authors’ own reflections.

Findings – Student experience is that Recovery College is effective because of the social relational factors, learning form other students and the collaborative co-productions approach; the educational approach of learning skills and knowledge, and choice and progression to personal goals.

Originality/value  This paper explains key aspects of Recovery College form a student’s perspective, informing the authors about possible components of their effect.

Keywords: education, recovery, mental health, Recovery College, student perspective.

Holttum S (2014) Mental health recovery is social. Mental Health and Social Inclusion, 18(3), 110-115.

http://www.emeraldinsight.com/doi/abs/10.1108/MHSI-05-2014-0014

This paper summarises two 2014 research papers that highlight the role of social interactions and the social world in recovery in the context of mental distress. One is about two theories from social psychology that help us understand social identity – our sense of who we are. The other brings together and looks at the similarities and differences between ten different therapies that focus on people’s strengths and resources rather than what is wrong with them. These two papers seem timely given the growing recognition of the role of social factors in the development and maintenance of mental distress. More attention to social factors in recovery could help make it more self-sustaining.

Holttum S (2014) The challenges of research on new ways to support recovery, Mental Health and Social Inclusion, 18(4), 169-175

http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/MHSI-08-2014-0027

The randomised controlled trial, though highly valued, has been criticised as not helping to understand how results occur: Real-life complexity is not captured, i.e. what actually happens at trial sites (rather than what was intended). This paper summarises and comments on two 2014 research papers addressing this challenge of randomised trials – concerning new therapeutic approaches for people diagnosed with psychotic disorders. These papers concern pioneering therapeutic approaches in psychosis. With randomised trials highly influential, both these papers recognise their potential problems, and seem to represent good attempts to understand what really happens.

Schrank B, Riches S, Bird V, Murray J, Tylee A, Slade M (2014) A conceptual framework for improving well-being in people with a diagnosis of psychosis, Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences, 23, 377-387.

Background. Well-being is important for people with severe mental illness, such as psychosis. So far, no clear concept of well-being exists for this client group. A recent systematic review and narrative synthesis developed a static framework of well-being components. The present study aims to validate the static framework and to illuminate the processes by which well-being is experienced by people with psychosis.

Methods. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 23 service users with psychosis exploring their experience of well-being. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data employing techniques taken from grounded theory to enhance the rigour of the analysis. Respondent validation was undertaken with 13 of the 23 participants.

Results. Three superordinate categories of well-being were identified: current sense of self; transition to enhanced sense of self and enhanced sense of self. In the dynamic process of improving well-being the current sense of self undergoes a transition to an enhanced sense of self. The four factors influencing the transition are consistent with the static framework of well-being, hence validating the static  framework. In addition, we identified three determinants of current sense of self and seven indicators of enhanced sense of self, which represent the achievement of improved well-being.

Conclusions. This study provides an empirically defensible framework for understanding well-being in terms of determinants, influences and indicators. The influences are targets for interventions to improve well-being, and the indicators are outcome domains to assess the effectiveness of services in supporting well-being.

5.Other news

Shula Ramon has taken over doing the e-bulletin. But e-mails can also continue to go to researchintorecovery@kcl.ac.uk as before. 

Recovery Research Network eBULLETIN

December 2014

RRN Meetings

The last meeting of the RRN, and the first regional meeting, was held on 14^th November at the Institute of Mental Health, Nottingham University. Mat Rawsthorne kindly organised the day on the theme of e-recovery: positive computing. Presentations and discussion addressed the question ofhow technology is facilitating, or otherwise, people to develop and maintain resilience through networks and coordinated action. Thank you to those who took part for what proved to be a thought-provoking day.

Minutes from the above meeting are attached and will be available on the website shortly, and the Powerpoint presentations will be available early in the New Year.

https://www.researchintorecovery.com/rrn/meeting-presentation-archive

If you would like to present at a future meeting please email:

researchintorecovery@kcl.ac.uk

Details of the next meeting of the RRN will be announced early in the New Year.

RRN Membership Profile

Updated membership profile attached. If you would like to update your entry please email your text to researchintorecovery@kcl.ac.uk. The Membership Profile will be circulated with each RRN monthly email, but not put on our web-site. New members can now join via the website:https://www.researchintorecovery.com/join

Conferences and Events 

i)  Society for Qualitative Inquiry in Psychology (SQIP) Annual conference May 14 2015

The Graduate Centre, City University New York, New York, NY.

Call for proposals: submissions by November 30 2014

Inquiries and submissions to Dr. Joseph Gone: jgone@unimich.edu

ii)  11th ENMESH Conference, Málaga. 1-3 October 2015. More information at: http://www.enmeshmalaga2015.com

Papers and Publications

i)  A new report describes a psychological approach to experiences that are commonly thought of as psychosis, or sometimes schizophrenia.

Link: http://www.bps.org.uk/networks-and-communities/member-microsite/division-clinical-psychology/understanding-psychosis-and-schizophrenia

ii)  Brownell, T., Schrank, B., Jakaite, Z, Larkin, C. and Slade, M. (2014) Mental Health Service User Experience of Positive Psychology. Journal of Clinical Psychology. Vol.71(1), pp.85-92. DOI: 10.1002/jclp.22118

Link: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jclp.22118/abstract

Objective: Service user satisfaction with therapy is a key part of the therapeutic process. The aim of this study was to investigate service user experiences of an 11-week group positive psychology intervention for psychosis (WELLFOCUS PPT) in the context of a randomized controlled trial.

Method: Participants were 37 individuals (51% male; mean age 45.6 years) receiving the intervention as part of the trial. Semistructured interviews and focus groups were conducted to investigate participants’ views of WELLFOCUS PPT. Transcripts were analyzed both deductively and inductively to identify common themes.

Results: Feedback about the group experience was positive throughout. Components found helpful included learning to savor experiences, identifying and developing strengths, forgiveness, gratitude, and therapist self-disclosure.

Conclusion: Findings emphasize the importance of considering service users’ perceptions of therapy and can be used to guide clinicians in deciding whether to include one or more of the components of WELLFOCUS PPT in therapy.

Other news

Tony Sparkes has joined Shula Ramon to co-produce the RRN monthly ebulletin. Please email if there is anything you would like included in the next issue, as we are keen to receive and advertise more news, articles and website references. Information can be posted to either Shula or Tony at the following:

Shula:              s.ramon@herts.ac.uk

                        shula.ramon@anglia.ac.uk

Tony                a.sparkes@bradford.ac.uk

Of course, material can still be posted to researchintorecovery@kcl.ac.uk

We have been reliably informed that a new administrator, Linda Sulaiman, will be joining us early January 2015, so congratulations to Linda and welcome to the RRN.

Wishing you all an enjoyable Christmas and New Year break, and a fulfilling 2015.