Evidence map›Paper›PMID 31256037›Full record

ArticleBMJ open2019

Post-traumatic growth in mental health recovery: qualitative study of narratives.

Mike Slade, Stefan Rennick-Egglestone, Laura Blackie, Joy Llewellyn-Beardsley, Donna Franklin, Ada Hui, Graham Thornicroft, Rose McGranahan, Kristian Pollock, Stefan Priebe and 3 more

Open access · goldAbstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in BMJ open, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 40 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
40citing papers in PubMed, 3 pooled it
19.7field-weighted citation impact, top 1% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

40 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 99 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
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  9. A lived experience transformation of mental illness to mental health: Inspiring a movement of hope.Australasian psychiatry : bulletin of Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists · 2025
    Article
  10. Post-Traumatic Growth in Volunteers Following the 2023 Kahramanmaraş Earthquakes.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2025
    Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors at 5 institutions in 2 countries.

Mike SladeInstitute of Mental Health, University of Nottingham School of Health Sciences, Nottingham, UK.
Stefan Rennick-EgglestoneInstitute of Mental Health, University of Nottingham School of Health Sciences, Nottingham, UK.
Laura BlackieDepartment of Psychology, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK.
Joy Llewellyn-BeardsleyInstitute of Mental Health, University of Nottingham School of Health Sciences, Nottingham, UK.
Donna FranklinInstitute of Mental Health, NEON Lived Experience Advisory Panel, Nottingham, UK.
Ada HuiInstitute of Mental Health, University of Nottingham School of Health Sciences, Nottingham, UK.
Graham ThornicroftHealth Service and Population Research Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.
Rose McGranahanUnit of Social and Community Psychiatry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK.
Kristian PollockSchool of Health Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK.
Stefan PriebeUnit of Social and Community Psychiatry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK.
Amy RamsayHealth Service and Population Research Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.
David RoeDepartment of Community Mental Health, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel.
Emilia DeakinInstitute of Mental Health, University of Nottingham School of Health Sciences, Nottingham, UK.
Institute of Mental Health · GBUniversity of Nottingham · GBKing's College London · GBQueen Mary University of London · GBUniversity of Haifa · IL

Funding

COBALT: Comorbid Affective Disorders, AIDS/HIV, and Long Term HealthR01MH100470 · NIMH · KING'S COLLEGE LONDON · PI FAIRALL, LARA ROSEMARY, PETERSEN, INGE · 2013 to 2018
$2.0M
Department of Health RP-PG-0615-20016Medical Research Council MR/R023697/1Medical Research Council MR/S001255/1NIMH NIH HHS R01 MH100470
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesPost-traumatic growth, defined as positive psychological change experienced as a result of the struggle with challenging life circumstances, is under-researched in people with mental health problems. The aim of this study was to develop a conceptual framework for post-traumatic growth in the context of recovery for people with psychosis and other severe mental health problems.

designQualitative thematic analysis of cross-sectional semi-structured interviews about personal experiences of mental health recovery.

settingEngland.

participantsParticipants were adults aged over 18 and: (1) living with psychosis and not using mental health services (n=21); (2) using mental health services and from black and minority ethnic communities (n=21); (3) underserved, operationalised as lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community or complex needs or rural community (n=19); or (4) employed in peer roles using their lived experience with others (n=16). The 77 participants comprised 42 (55%) female and 44 (57%) white British.

resultsComponents of post-traumatic growth were present in 64 (83%) of recovery narratives. Six superordinate categories were identified, consistent with a view that post-traumatic growth involves learning about oneself (self-discovery) leading to a new sense of who one is (sense of self) and appreciation of life (life perspective). Observable positively valued changes comprise a greater focus on self-management (well-being) and more importance being attached to relationships (relationships) and spiritual or religious engagement (spirituality). Categories are non-ordered and individuals may start from any point in this process.

conclusionsPost-traumatic growth is often part of mental health recovery. Changes are compatible with research about growth following trauma, but with more emphasis on self-discovery, integration of illness-related experiences and active self-management of well-being. Trauma-related growth may be a preferable term for participants who identify as having experienced trauma. Trauma-informed mental healthcare could use the six identified categories as a basis for new approaches to supporting recovery. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ISRCTN11152837.

Indexed as

Mental Health RecoveryPosttraumatic Growth, PsychologicalAdolescentAdultFemaleHumansInterviews as TopicMaleMental DisordersMiddle AgedNarrationPsychotic DisordersQualitative ResearchRecovery of FunctionYoung Adultmental healthpost-traumatic growthrecovery

Identifiers

PMID31256037
PMCPMC6609070
OpenAlexW2953946378

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.