Service provider perceptions of posttraumatic growth experienced by service users receiving treatment for a first episode of psychosis

Abstract

Youth can experience improved psychological changes (i.e., posttraumatic growth, or PTG) following the onset of psychosis. Case managers play an important role in the treatment of first episode psychosis but may be unaware that PTG occurs, a topic that has yet to be explored. This study compared service users’ PTG following a first episode of psychosis and case managers’ perceptions of service users’ PTG. Service users receiving treatment for a first episode of psychosis and their case managers completed separate versions of the PTG inventory. Service users’ ratings were higher than case managers’ on the PTG inventory subscales measuring appreciation of life, new possibilities, personal strength, and religious/spiritual change. Case managers may lack an awareness of service users’ PTG. Early intervention services seeking to facilitate PTG may require greater training on how to best recognize and facilitate it.

Keywords:

• Posttraumatic growth
• recovery
• first episode psychosis
• early intervention services for first episode psychosis
• case manager
• corroborated ratings

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Megan Pope for editing a previous version of this manuscript.

Disclosure statement

GJ has received funding from the Department of Psychiatry at McGill University; the Franke Program in Science and the Humanities; the Fonds de recherche du Québec- Santé; and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. AM is funded through the Canada Research Chair Program. AM has received research funding, unrelated to the present study, from BMS, Pfizer, Otsuka and Lundbeck as well as honoraria related CME lectures, research consultation and advisory board participation from, Otsuka and Lundbeck.

SI has received funds from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. She is funded by a CIHR New Investigator Salary award and previously received a salary award from the Fonds de Recherche du Québec – Santé.