A narratology of postpartum psychosis in an Orthodox Jewish woman

The experience of psychosis and recovery from consumers' perspectives: An integrative literature review

WHAT IS KNOWN ON THE SUBJECT?: Since the first decade of this century, few qualitative studies and literature reviews have reported consumers' experiences of psychosis and recovery. The findings from these studies need further exploration. WHAT DOES THE PAPER ADD TO EXISTING KNOWLEDGE?: New insights into consumers' experiences of psychosis were generated. Additionally, understanding of consumers' conceptions and experiences of recovery were reported. Consumers' insights into the enablers and barriers to recovery that they encountered were also identified. Gaps in the literature remain, particularly those related to the effects of gender and culture on consumers' experiences of and recovery from psychosis. WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE?: Nurses' understanding of consumers' perspectives and experiences of psychosis is vital to enhancing the quality of mental health nursing when caring for people living with psychosis. To support user-based recovery, mental health nurses need to incorporate person-centred approaches and reduce their preferencing of medical understandings of recovery.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Psychosis is a distressing disorder. Consumers' perspectives about their experiences of psychosis and recovery are essential aspects of mental health nursing.

AIMS

To review contemporary evidence related to consumers' experiences of and recovery from psychosis.

METHOD

An integrative review was the method used; six databases were systematically searched. Of the 157 articles screened, 14 met the inclusion criteria and were assessed for quality using Joanna Briggs Institute Appraisal tools. Data were compared, classified and integrated.

RESULTS

Findings revealed that consumers' experiences of psychosis included issues with self-expression and language, psychosocial problems and stigma. Also, consumers' experiences associated with their recovery were reported, and this included their perspectives on the enablers and barriers that they encountered.

DISCUSSION

Consumer's experiences of and recovery from psychosis provide an essential basis for managing and working with people experiencing psychosis. Further research identifying the potential effects of gender and culture into consumers' lived experiences is required.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

Exploring the experience of someone with psychosis will help nurses to understand the impacts of this condition. This understanding can guide nurses to apply recovery-oriented practices. Specific aspects of psychosis experience, including gender and culture, should inform nurses' practices towards recovery.

Recovery from postpartum psychosis: a systematic review and metasynthesis of women's and families' experiences

Postpartum psychosis is a serious disorder that can result in adverse consequences for the mother and baby. It is important that we understand the experiences of women, to develop effective interventions during this critical period. The aim of this systematic review was to conduct a metasynthesis of qualitative research exploring women's experiences of postpartum psychosis and factors involved in recovery from the perspective of women and family members. A comprehensive literature search of five databases was conducted and the findings were appraised and synthesised, following a thematic synthesis approach. Fifteen studies, capturing the views of 103 women and 42 family members, met the inclusion criteria. Four main themes incorporating 13 subthemes were identified following synthesis: (1) Experiencing the unspeakable, (2) Loss and disruption, (3) Realigning old self and new self and the integrative theme of (4) Social context. The findings offer new insight into the unique experience of postpartum psychosis and demonstrate that recovery does not follow a linear path. To improve clinical outcomes, a more integrative and individualised approach is needed which incorporates long-term psychological and psychosocial support, and considers the needs of the family. Further areas for staff training, service development and future research are highlighted.

Assessment and Care of Childbearing Women With Severe and Persistent Mental Illness

Severe and persistent mental illness (SPMI) refers to complex mood disorders that include major depressive disorder with or without psychosis; severe anxiety disorders resistant to treatment; affective psychotic disorders including bipolar affective disorder, schizophrenia, and schizoaffective disorder; and other nonaffective subtypes of schizophrenia. SPMIs affect 1 in 17 people and are among the leading causes of disability and impaired health-related quality of life in the United States. Caring for childbearing women with preexisting SPMI can be challenging for maternal-child health clinicians. This article provides an overview of SPMI during pregnancy and challenges for clinicians, including early identification, accuracy of diagnoses, and appropriate management through care coordination among an interdisciplinary team that includes obstetric providers, psychiatrists, nurses, and others.