Psychiatrists’ perceptions of schizophrenia and its recovery : a thematic analysis

Abstract

Through the lenses of critical realism and contextualism, this study is about how psychiatrists perceive schizophrenia and its recovery. Semi-structured interviews with six participants were conducted and analysed using them atic analysis. The findings were organized into four over arching themes: the psychiatrists’ perceptions of schizophrenia; ways of working with individuals with schizophrenia; the relational aspect of working with individuals with schizophrenia; and psychiatrists’ perceptions of recovery. All participants viewed schizophrenia as an illness with biological basis and based their diagnosis largely on clinical experience. Medication was seen as occupying a central role in treatment. Complete recovery was defined as being asymptomatic and being able to function without the use of medication; however, living in the community on medication was also seen as a form of recovery. Only one psychiatrist defined recovery according to the recovery model, viewing individuals as a whole with the potential of living a meaningful life despite having schizophrenia. The study concludes that psychiatrists’ perceptions of schizophrenia and its recovery are influenced by a mental health system which is largely hospital based and lacks adequate community support and are reflected in the way psychiatrists interact with the patient and the treatment decisions they take on the journey of recovery.