Personal recovery in personality disorder: systematic review and meta-synthesis of qualitative methods studies.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Support of personal recovery represents the aim for many modern mental health services. There is a lack of conceptual clarity around the application of the term however and this is particularly problematic with regard to the personality disorder diagnoses. This study sought to review the existing qualitative methods literature in relation to the experience of personal recovery in personality disorder. METHODS: A systematic literature search was conducted. Identified studies were incorporated through meta-synthesis in order to develop higher order descriptive themes representative of the individual experience described within included studies. RESULTS: Three studies were identified and incorporated into the meta-synthesis. Three novel higher order themes were developed: Safety and containment as a prerequisite to recovery, social networks and autonomy in the recovery process and identity construction as a process of change. CONCLUSION: Personal recovery in personality disorder is revealed as a complex process reflecting both personal and social experiences or desires. These findings have important implications for clinical practice - emphasising the need to work closely with individuals and to develop an understanding of both their social experience and networks. Further research, taking greater account of social context in the recovery process, is necessary.
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Shepherd et al. (2016) found only three studies to include in a systematic review and meta-synthesis of qualitative studies of recovery for people diagnosed with personality disorders in general.
“Performing a systematic review and meta-synthesis of qualitative studies of recovery for people diagnosed with personality disorders in general, that is, a much broader inclusion scope than people diagnosed with BPD, Shepherd et al. (2016) found only three studies to include.”
From Moving toward connectedness – a qualitative study of recovery processes for people with borderline personality disorder (2019) · cites this paper as Shepherd et al. (2016)
Shepherd et al. report that the higher order themes of safety, social relationships and autonomy are understood as a prerequisite for an individual to recover.
“They report that the higher order themes of safety, social relationships and autonomy are understood as a prerequisite for an individual to recover.”
From Moving toward connectedness – a qualitative study of recovery processes for people with borderline personality disorder (2019) · cites this paper as Shepherd et al. (2016)
If safety and autonomy are core aspects of recovery from personality disorder problems in general and for people diagnosed with BPD, a forensic setting seems challenging.
“Indeed, if safety and autonomy are core aspects of recovery from personality disorder problems in general (Shepherd et al., 2016), and for people diagnosed with BPD, as suggested in our findings, a forensic setting seems challenging.”
From Moving toward connectedness – a qualitative study of recovery processes for people with borderline personality disorder (2019) · cites this paper as Shepherd et al., 2016
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- Authors
- Shepherd, A., Sanders, C., Doyle, M., & Shaw, J.
- Affiliations
- Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust (GB)
- University of Manchester (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Shepherd, Andrew
- Venue
- International Journal of Social Psychiatry
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2015-06-16
- Volume
- 62
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 41-50
- ISSN
- 0020-7640 (ISSN-L)
- 1741-2854
- OpenAlex
- W2153692867
- Cited by
- 23
- References
- 47
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 4 · 2019: 4 · 2017: 2
- FWCI
- 0.10
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- International Journal of Social Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Research Explorer (The University of Manchester) (publishedVersion)
- RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute for Health and Care Research (DRF-2013-06-122)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Personality Disorders and Psychopathology
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Mental Health and Patient Involvement
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychiatric care and mental health services
- Keywords
- personal recovery, personality disorders, lived experience, social networks, autonomy, identity construction, mental health services
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Deinstitutionalization, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Personality Disorders, Qualitative Research
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