Exploring Barriers to Recovery Amongst Women with Psychosis: A Qualitative Secondary Analysis.
Chizara Lock, Anna Lavis, Rosina Pendrous, Sheila Greenfield
Culture, medicine and psychiatry April 17, 2026 DOI: 10.1007/s11013-026-09985-0 via PubMed
Summary
Women recovering from a first episode of psychosis face multiple barriers that intersect with sex and gender norms. A qualitative analysis of 31 interviews with women recruited from Early Intervention Services in England identified five key barriers: internal conflicts with identity, constrained moral agency, inadequate support for past trauma, structural factors, and stigma. These barriers are shaped by both sex and gender expectations. Addressing them within mental health services is essential to help women find new meaning and move forward after psychosis. The findings highlight the need for sex- and gender-specific interventions and clinical practices that consider past experiences and normative gender roles.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Qualitative secondary analysis Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 31 |
| Population | Women with lived experience of a first episode of psychosis recruited from Early Intervention Services in England, UK |
| Keywords | Anthropology Gender Psychosis Recovery Women |
| Key finding | Barriers to recovery for women with psychosis include internal identity conflicts, constrained moral agency, inadequate trauma support, structural factors, and stigma, all intersecting with sex and gender norms. |
Abstract
Experiencing psychosis can impact all areas of a person's life, causing significant changes to thoughts, perceptions, mood, behaviour, and sense of self. Details of the specific barriers to recovery experienced by women with psychosis and how these barriers may relate to both sex and gender remain unknown. To identify and conceptualise barriers to recovery, a qualitative secondary analysis was undertaken of 31 semi-structured interviews from a primary anthropological study focused on women's lived experiences of a first episode of psychosis. Participants were recruited from Early Intervention Services in England, UK, between 2010 and 2015. Reflexive thematic analysis demonstrated various barriers to recovery, including internal conflicts with identity, the constraining of moral agency, inadequate support to address past traumas, structural factors, and stigma. Each of these barriers intersects with both sex and gender norms in a number of ways. Barriers to recovery must be addressed within mental health services to ensure that women have the best chance of moving forward with, and finding new meaning in, their lives after psychosis. Consideration of past experiences as well as normative gender roles, and other structural barriers is needed. Future research should develop and evaluate sex- and gender-specific interventions and consider integrating these into clinical practice.