TY - JOUR

T1 - Experience of psychosocial formulation within a biopsychosocial model of care for first- episode psychosis

AU - Cairns, V.A.

AU - Reid, G.S.

AU - Murray, C.D.

AU - Weatherhead, S.J.

PY - 2015/7/30

Y1 - 2015/7/30

N2 - Objectives: A biopsychosocial model of care (integrating biological and psychosocial supoprt) is often applied within Early Intervention for Psychosis services. The current study aims to explore the experience of people engaging with a process of psychosocial formulation whilst also being supported by clinicians representing a biological understanding of psychosis. Design: A qualitative design is used, with data collected through semi-structured interviews. Methods: 9 individuals from Early Intervention services were interviewed regarding their experience of engaging in psychosocial formulation whilst concurrently receiving ongoing support from a medical perspective. Results: 3 common themes were identified across the experience of the participants. These were (i) a joined-up ‘package’ of support (ii) formulation makes a distinctive contribution to the ‘package’ (iii) shaping the experience. Conclusions: The biopsychosocial model of care for first episode psychosis was experienced by participants as offering a sense of a coherent support ‘package’. This was multi-faceted, of which psychosocial formulation was identified as making a distinctive contribution. Participants also exerted agency upon their experience of the biopsychosocial model of care and were able to shape their support in a way that was most personally meaningful. Suggestion of the existence of a continuum of experience of psychosocial formulation within this context is discussed, in addition to implications for clinical practice regarding the need to enhance the malleable nature of the biopsychosocial model.

AB - Objectives: A biopsychosocial model of care (integrating biological and psychosocial supoprt) is often applied within Early Intervention for Psychosis services. The current study aims to explore the experience of people engaging with a process of psychosocial formulation whilst also being supported by clinicians representing a biological understanding of psychosis. Design: A qualitative design is used, with data collected through semi-structured interviews. Methods: 9 individuals from Early Intervention services were interviewed regarding their experience of engaging in psychosocial formulation whilst concurrently receiving ongoing support from a medical perspective. Results: 3 common themes were identified across the experience of the participants. These were (i) a joined-up ‘package’ of support (ii) formulation makes a distinctive contribution to the ‘package’ (iii) shaping the experience. Conclusions: The biopsychosocial model of care for first episode psychosis was experienced by participants as offering a sense of a coherent support ‘package’. This was multi-faceted, of which psychosocial formulation was identified as making a distinctive contribution. Participants also exerted agency upon their experience of the biopsychosocial model of care and were able to shape their support in a way that was most personally meaningful. Suggestion of the existence of a continuum of experience of psychosocial formulation within this context is discussed, in addition to implications for clinical practice regarding the need to enhance the malleable nature of the biopsychosocial model.

U2 - 10.37200/V19I2/8154

DO - 10.37200/V19I2/8154

M3 - Journal article

VL - 19

SP - 47

EP - 62

JO - International Journal of Psychosocial Rehabilitation

JF - International Journal of Psychosocial Rehabilitation

IS - 2

ER -