Exploring Barriers to Recovery Amongst Women with Psychosis: A Qualitative Secondary Analysis.
Culture, medicine and psychiatry April 17, 2026 Chizara Lock, Anna Lavis, Rosina Pendrous et al.
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.