The Power of Perception: Lived Experiences with Diagnostic Labeling in Mental Health Recovery without Ongoing Medication Use

AbstractThe recovery movement in mental health emphasizes holistic and individualized treatment through many pathways to recovery, though the majority of mental health treatment and existing literature emphasize pharmacotherapy and medication adherence for major mental health conditions. The reimbursement system and research literature are oriented around formal diagnostic categories based in a biomedical perspective of mental health problems, but diagnostic labels also carry stigma and influence how clients perceive themselves and their mental health problems. To investigate the influence of labeling and perception in alternate pathways to recovery, this qualitative study explores the lived experience of diagnostic labeling and self-perception among persons in sustained recovery without ongoing medication use. The study used a grounded theory approach to analyze data from in-depth interviews with 19 participants. Participants had previously received diagnoses of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and/or major depression, met criteria for functional recovery, and were no longer taking psychotropic medications for 12  months. The participants identified positive perceptions—externalization of the problem and hope for an external “cure”—and negative perceptions—stigma and powerlessness—following a diagnostic label. Notably, the theme of powerlessness related to the initially positive themes as the di agnosis placed the problem outside their control and some participa...
Source: Psychiatric Quarterly - Category: Psychiatry Source Type: research