(May) Investigating recovery amongst MDO’s living in the Community
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Investigating recovery amongst mentally-disordered offenders living in the community.
IRAS ID
119955
Contact name
Tim Green
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Kings College London
Research summary
Personal recovery is difficult to define as it is a deeply, unique and individualised experience for each person and perceived more as a journey involving personal growth (Patton, 2005). Personal recovery amongst mentally disordered offenders in the community setting is currently an under-researched area. This study therefore aims to explore the perceptions and meaning of recovery amongst mentally disordered offenders living in the community using a qualitative approach.
In selecting this approach, the interpretation of each individual’s experience of recovery can be investigated; gaining an understanding of the meanings they ascribe to their experiences, their thoughts and feelings. The identification of key issues/themes relating to recovery amongst mentally disordered offenders in the community using a qualitative approach is a useful starting point for future quantitative investigation of these themes.
In line with these aims, the study will take a discovery-orientated approach to explore the meaning of recovery to mentally disordered offenders as they make the transition from secure hospital to community living. Therefore the research question will be ‘What does recovery mean amongst mentally-disordered offenders living in the community?’
6-8 participants will be recruited via purposive sampling from Community Forensic Teams within the Psychosis Clinical Academic Groups (CAGs) . This is part of the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM). The sample will consist of male and female mentally-disordered offenders that meet the inclusion criteria.
The participants will undergo a 1:1 face-to-face semi-structured interview in order to obtain rich, detailed accounts of their perceptions and experiences of recovery. Interviews will last between 45 and 75minutes and will take place in a private room within a clinical setting that is both appropriate and familiar to the participant.
REC name
London - Chelsea Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
13/LO/0629
Date of REC Opinion
7 Jun 2013
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion