The process of recovery from bipolar I disorder: a qualitative analysis of personal accounts in relation to an integrative cognitive model.

In studies exploring recovery from bipolar disorders, participants described conflicts between striving for wellness whilst wanting to retain the positive influences of mania.

“In studies exploring recovery from bipolar disorders, participants described conflicts between striving for wellness whilst wanting to retain the positive influences of mania (Mansell, Powell, Pedley, Thomas, & Jones, 2010).”

These findings support the idea that clients have contrasting views of internal states and how to control them.

“These findings support the idea that clients have contrasting views of internal states and how to control them (Mansell et al., 2010).”

Clients have reported that living purposeful lives is more important to them than avoiding relapse.

“For example, clients have reported that living purposeful lives is more important to them than avoiding relapse (Mansell et al., 2010).”

Participants have emphasised the importance of a purposeful, fulfilling life over remaining relapse-free, including facing social fears through increasing social activity and learning to express one's own needs.

“Participants have emphasised the importance of a purposeful, fulfilling life over remaining relapse-free (Todd et al., 2012) including facing social fears through increasing social activity and learning to express one's own needs (Mansell et al., 2010).”

Increasing social contact has been reported as a contributor to recovering from bipolar disorders.

“Increasing social contact has been reported as a contributor to recovering from bipolar disorders (Mansell et al., 2010).”

Others reported that fear of relapse can lead to hyper-attentiveness around warning signs and counterproductive safety behaviours.

“However, others reported that fear of relapse can lead to hyper-attentiveness around warning signs and counterproductive safety behaviours (Mansell et al., 2010).”

The authors' experience and knowledge of mental health problems and psychotherapy may have influenced the interviews and analysis, such as through recognising meaningful issues for therapy participants.

“The authors' experience and knowledge of mental health problems and psychotherapy may have influenced the interviews and analysis, such as through recognising meaningful issues for therapy participants (Mansell et al., 2010).”