Understanding Recovery in Everyday Life Leaflet

Who are we looking for?
We are looking people who meet the following criteria:
• Aged 16-65 years old.
• In contact with the mental health services with a diagnosis of
non-affective psychosis (primary diagnosis of schizophrenia,
schizoaffective disorder, persistent delusional disorder, acute
and transient psychotic disorder, or psychosis not otherwise
specified).
• Able to provide written informed consent.
• Able to read and write in English and complete assessments.

What can we offer to participants?
• Participants will be involved in research that may improve
clinical practice, and subsequently help other people in their
recovery
• Researchers will meet the participants at their own homes or
another local venue of their choice.
• Participants will receive £10 for completing stage 1, £20 for
completing stage 2 and £10 for completing stage 3 as a small
token of appreciation.
• They will receive feedback about the project’s results.

For more information/to get involved, contact:

This leaflet is for you if:
James Dudley (Research Assistant)
• You want to know more about the project
Tel: 01617723614
• You are someone who might want to take part
Mob: 07825386158
• You are a carer or mental health worker and you know
Email: james.dudley@nhs.net
someone who meets the criteria who might like to take part

Sehar Maqsood (Research Assistant)
Tel: 01617723634
Mob: 07765896807
Email: sehar.maqsood@nhs.net

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Who is carrying out the project?
What is involved?
The study is part of the Recovery Programme of research. It is
We are hoping for 120 people to take part within the North West
being carried by researchers at Greater Manchester West Mental
of England
Health NHS Foundation Trust and Bangor University. It is also

supported by the NIMR Mental Health Research Network.
The study is divided into 3 stages of assessment:


Background to the project
Stage One:
It is a common view that recovery from psychosis should be viewed
Initial Assessment
on an assessment of symptoms and relapse, however there are

issues with this perspective. Research has shown that service users
• A short interview, computerised task and self-report
can score highly for symptoms on clinical measures, yet also
questionnaires about functioning, recovery, self-esteem, mood
function normally socially, occupationally and cognitively.
etc… are undertaken, taking around 2 hours.
Furthermore, findings have noted that service users tend to define

recovery in terms of rebuilding life, rebuilding self and hope for a
Stage Two:
better future.
Experience Sampling


Given this new way of looking at recovery, work is required to
• A specially programmed watch and pack of
answer the questions which arise. Are recovery judgements stable
diary booklets are provided for six days.
over time, or do service users fluctuate in their judgements about

mental wellness? Why do some service users regard themselves as
• The watch will bleep at several points
recovered whereas others do not? So far very little research has
throughout the day; at that point a short series of simple ques-
addressed this issue. Our study is therefore designed to address a
tions about mood, self-esteem, rumination and thoughts are
series of hypotheses that are necessarily speculative.
filled out in the diary.


Aims of the project
Stage Three:
• Help to emphasise individual differences in perception of
Follow-Ups
recovery.


• Once a month, the researcher will give a very short phone-call
• To increase understanding of factors underlying recovery from
asking about state of recovery and current mood and self-
psychosis.
esteem.


• To provide evidence for and to encourage a more optimistic
• On the sixth month, there will be a final meeting repeating the
view of recovery.
short interview.

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