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Title

Understanding adaptation to first-episode psychosis: the relevance of trauma and posttraumatic growth

Author(s)

Dunkley, Jane E.;  Bates, Glen W.;  Foulds, Margaret;  Fitzgerald, Paul B.

Abstract

This paper examines recovery from first-episode psychosis in terms of models of trauma and posttraumatic growth. Two first-episode psychosis patients (male and female aged 22 and 25 years respectively) who had a diagnosis of Bipolar I Disorder and had been hospitalised at a public mental health inpatient unit and their family members participated. Qualitative data from in-depth interviews suggests that recovery from first-episode psychosis can be conceptualised within a trauma framework. The two first-episode psychosis participants identified their experiences as traumatic and acknowledged elements of posttraumatic growth. The case studies also point to individual differences and needs and demonstrate important areas for research and early intervention practices. Research is also needed to understand the broader complexities of growth and how it relates to the experience of first-episode psychosis and recovery from this event.

Publication type

Journal article

Research centre

Swinburne University of Technology. Faculty of Life and Social Sciences

Source

Australasian Journal of Disaster and Trauma Studies, Vol. 2007, no. 1 (2007)

Publication year

2007

Keyword(s)

Bipolar disorders;  Posttraumatic growth;  Psychosis;  Trauma

Publisher

Massey University

ISSN

1174-4707

Publisher URL

http://www.massey.ac.nz/~trauma/issues/2007-1/dunkley.htm

Copyright

Copyright © 2007 Jane E Dunkley, Glen W Bates, Margaret Foulds & Paul Fitzgerald. The authors assign to the Australasian Journal of Disaster and Trauma Studies at Massey University a non-exclusive licence to use this document for personal use and in courses of instruction provided that the article is used in full and this copyright statement is reproduced. The author/s also grant a non-exclusive licence to Massey University to publish this document in full on the World Wide Web and for the document to be published on mirrors on the World Wide Web. Any other usage is prohibited without the express permission of the authors.

Full text

Peer reviewed