Experiences of empowerment in a community cognitive enhancement therapy program: an exploratory qualitative study

ABSTRACT

Objective: Empowerment is an important component of many recovery-oriented treatments for people diagnosed with psychosis. Cognitive Enhancement Therapy (CET) is an efficacious rehabilitation program targeting social and neuro- cognition, but secondary recovery benefits are unknown. The purpose of this exploratory study was to examine experiences of empowerment among CET participants.

Method: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 16 participants diagnosed with psychotic disorders. Interview transcripts were analyzed by three independent coders using thematic analysis.

Results: Four themes consistent with empowerment theory emerged: (1) Peer support; (2) Optimism and control over the future; (3) Power; and (4) Self-esteem.

Conclusions: Findings from this exploratory study suggest that experiences of empowerment are a measurable component of CET. Findings highlight opportunities to measure and target empowerment within cognitive rehabilitation and other recovery-oriented interventions.

KEYWORDS:

• Empowerment
• cognitive rehabilitation
• recovery
• peer support
• self-esteem

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Graduate Studies; University of Missouri-Kansas City Department of Psychology and Friends of Psychiatry.