{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,17]],"date-time":"2026-08-17T14:39:39Z","timestamp":1786977579882,"version":"build-2736575974"},"reference-count":42,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,3,3]],"date-time":"2025-03-03T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1740960000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100015278","name":"Mastercard Foundation","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100015278","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Psychiatry"],"abstract":"<jats:sec><jats:title>Introduction<\/jats:title><jats:p>Schizophrenia recovery is perceived as a one-time symptom remission. However, it is a process that may continue throughout an individual's life. Understanding the recovery experience of a person with schizophrenia is an essential component of filling the mental health service gap and enhancing a smooth recovery process. The objective of this study was to explore the recovery experience of individuals with schizophrenia in a developing country.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title><jats:p>To understand these experiences, we used qualitative research. Seventeen participants were purposefully selected from two hospitals in Northwestern Ethiopia. Semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted, and data was analyzed using Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results<\/jats:title><jats:p>Finally, four themes were generated: the first theme was the meaning of recovery. The definition of schizophrenia recovery differs from person to person based on their personal experience. For some, recovery means becoming free of symptoms, and for others, helping their family and being economically independent. The second theme was obstacles to recovery. The obstacles included limited understanding from family members, decreased social engagement, financial dependency, hopelessness, and suicidal thoughts. The third theme was support by family and employers. Participants received support from people around them. Family members mainly provided support by feeding, clothing, giving medications, and taking them to spiritual places. The fourth theme was coping strategies used to manage illness, which included medication adherence, visiting holy water sites and traditional healers, and listening to spiritual lessons.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title><jats:p>Generally, participants focused on recovery from illness by emphasizing being free from symptoms to start their regular life. However, some of them were interested in pursuing education and engaging in work. The meaning given for recovery determines the kind of recovery process individuals have. Accepting that schizophrenia is a lifelong disorder, following medical treatments, finding ways to be active in their social life, and engaging in day-to-day activities are crucial components of recovery. In addition, since support from family members is vital, creating awareness creation programs for family members and the community is essential. Finally, psychosocial support and vocational training are important strategies that need to be considered to support recovery.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyt.2025.1470656","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,3,3]],"date-time":"2025-03-03T12:53:51Z","timestamp":1741006431000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["The recovery experiences of individuals with schizophrenia in northwestern Ethiopia"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"16","author":[{"given":"Selamawit","family":"Kassa","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Setareh","family":"Ghahari","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Rosemary","family":"Lysaght","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Carrie Anne","family":"Marshall","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Missaye Mulatie","family":"Mengstie","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,3,3]]},"reference":[{"key":"B1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/jopy.12471","article-title":"Recovering a sense of self in schizophrenia","volume":"88","author":"Davidson","year":"2009","journal-title":"J. Pers."},{"key":"B2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"27","DOI":"10.1177\/0020764014535753","article-title":"Hearing their voices: The lived experience of recovery from first-episode psychosis in schizophrenia in south africa","volume":"61","author":"de Wet","year":"2015","journal-title":"Int J Soc Psychiatry"},{"key":"B3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"59","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cpr.2017.09.007","article-title":"Predictors of functional recovery in fi rst-episode psychosis : A systematic review and meta-analysis of longitudinal studies","volume":"58","author":"Santesteban-echarri","year":"2017","journal-title":"Clin Psychol Rev"},{"key":"B4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1080\/0954026021000016978","article-title":"The process of recovery from schizophrenia","volume":"14","author":"Spaniol","year":"2002","journal-title":"Int Rev Psychiatry"},{"key":"B5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1186\/s12888-023-04862-1","article-title":"Recovery journey of people with a lived experience of schizophrenia: a qualitative study of experiences","volume":"23","author":"Ma","year":"2023","journal-title":"BMC Psychiatry"},{"key":"B6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s11126-016-9459-6","article-title":"A qualitative study of the subjective appraisal of recovery among people with lived experience of schizophrenia in Poland","volume":"88","author":"Nowak","year":"2017","journal-title":"Psychiatr Q"},{"key":"B7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1080\/15332985.2015.1100153","article-title":"The lived experience of schizophrenia: A systematic review and meta-synthesis","volume":"14","author":"Walsh","year":"2016","journal-title":"Soc Work Ment Health"},{"key":"B8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s00127-003-0678-4","article-title":"Onset and clinical course of schizophrenia in Butajira-Ethiopia - A community-based study","volume":"38","author":"Kebede","year":"2003","journal-title":"Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol"},{"key":"B9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s12144-023-04360-3","article-title":"Exploring lived experience of recovery processes in those with psychosis: A systematic review with thematic synthesis of qualitative evidence","volume":"43","author":"Murray","year":"2024","journal-title":"Curr Psychology: A J Diverse Perspect Diverse psychol Issues"},{"key":"B10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"4090","DOI":"10.3390\/jcm12124090","article-title":"Exploring personal recovery in schizophrenia : the role of mentalization","volume":"12","author":"Concerto","year":"2023","journal-title":"J Clin Med"},{"key":"B11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/13634615231183928","article-title":"Europe PMC Funders Group Critical reflections on the concept and impact of \u2018scaling up\u2019 in Global Mental Health","volume":"60","author":"Bayetti","year":"2023","journal-title":"Transcult Psychiatry"},{"key":"B12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/1039856219889320","article-title":"Schizophrenia, recovery and the individual-cultural considerations","volume":"28","author":"Tirupati","year":"2020","journal-title":"Australas Psychiatry"},{"key":"B13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"7","DOI":"10.1007\/s40737-014-0010-5","article-title":"Applying a mental health recovery approach for people from diverse backgrounds : the case of collectivism and individualism paradigms","volume":"1","author":"Tse","year":"2014","journal-title":"J.\u00a0Psychosoc. Rehabil. Ment. Health"},{"key":"B14","first-page":"889","article-title":"The Re-covering Self: a critique of the recovery-based approach in India\u2019s mental health care","volume":"3","author":"Bayetti","year":"2016","journal-title":"Disability Global South"},{"key":"B15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1037\/0090-5550.50.2.105","article-title":"International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health: An introduction for rehabilitation psychologists","volume":"50","author":"Peterson","year":"2005","journal-title":"Rehabil Psychol"},{"key":"B16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1080\/14768320600941756","article-title":"Pain as an assault on the self: An interpretative phenomenological analysis of the psychological impact of chronic benign low back pain","volume":"22","author":"Smith","year":"2007","journal-title":"Psychol Health"},{"key":"B17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s10488-013-0528-y","article-title":"Purposeful sampling for qualitative data collection and analysis in mixed method implementation research","volume":"42","author":"Palinkas","year":"2015","journal-title":"Administration Policy Ment Health Ment Health Serv Res"},{"key":"B18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/1049732315617444","article-title":"Sample size in qualitative interview studies : guided by information power","volume":"26","author":"Malterud","year":"2016","journal-title":"Qual Health Res"},{"key":"B19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.11604\/pamj.2015.21.39.6664","article-title":"Prevalence and predictors of sub-optimal medication adherence among patients with severe mental illnesses in a tertiary psychiatric facility in maiduguri, north-eastern Nigeria","volume":"21","author":"Ibrahim","year":"2015","journal-title":"Pan Afr Med J"},{"key":"B20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.34190\/JBRM.18.2.008","article-title":"The research audit trail: methodological guidance for application in practice","volume":"18","author":"Carcary","year":"2020","journal-title":"Electronic J Business Res Methods"},{"key":"B21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1080\/13645579.2013.852368","article-title":"Exploring analytical trustworthiness and the process of reaching consensus in interpretative phenomenological analysis : lost in transcription","volume":"5579","author":"Rodham","year":"2015","journal-title":"Int J Soc Res Method"},{"key":"B22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.14691\/cppj.20.1.7","article-title":"A practical guide to using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis in qualitative research psychology","volume":"20","author":"Smith","year":"2014","journal-title":"Czasopismo Psychologiczne psychol J"},{"key":"B23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1108\/qrom-06-2017-1538","article-title":"Evaluating inductive vs deductive research in management studies","volume":"13","author":"Woiceshyn","year":"2018","journal-title":"Qual Res Organizations Management: Int J"},{"key":"B24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/00207640211068370","article-title":"Personal meaning of recovery among persons with schizophrenia","volume":"69","author":"Mathew","year":"2023","journal-title":"Int J Soc Psychiatry"},{"key":"B25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1176\/appi.ps.201100424","article-title":"The personal meaning of recovery among individuals treated for a first episode of psychosis","volume":"63","author":"Windell","year":"2012","journal-title":"Psychiatr Serv"},{"key":"B26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"13","DOI":"10.5498\/wjp.v11.i1.13","article-title":"What gets in the way of social engagement in schizophrenia","volume":"11","author":"Weittenhiller","year":"2021","journal-title":"World J Psychiatry"},{"key":"B27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"93","DOI":"10.1016\/j.apnu.2018.08.005","article-title":"Archives of psychiatric nursing exploring the experiences of parent caregivers of adult children with schizophrenia : A systematic review","volume":"33","author":"Young","year":"2019","journal-title":"Arch Psychiatr Nurs"},{"key":"B28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s00127-008-0451-9","article-title":"Effects of psycho-educational program on knowledge and attitude upon schizophrenia of schizophrenic patients \u2019 Caregivers","volume":"90","author":"Med","year":"2007","journal-title":"J Med Assoc Thai"},{"key":"B29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.4103\/0019-5545.43056","article-title":"Family education in schizophrenia : A comparison of two approaches","volume":"47","author":"Thara","year":"2005","journal-title":"Indian J Psychiatry"},{"key":"B30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"5412","DOI":"10.3402\/qhw.v6i1.5412","article-title":"What do individuals with schizophrenia need to increase their well-being","volume":"6","author":"Gunnmo","year":"2011","journal-title":"Int. J. Qual. Stud. Health Well-being"},{"key":"B31","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"64","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1600-0447.2008.01216.x","article-title":"The effectiveness of peer support groups in psychosis : a randomized controlled trial","volume":"118","author":"Castelein","year":"2008","journal-title":"Acta Psychiatr Scand"},{"key":"B32","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.2147\/NDT.S83546","article-title":"Employment and the associated impact on quality of life in people diagnosed with\u00a0schizophrenia","volume":"11","author":"Bouwmans","year":"2015","journal-title":"Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat"},{"key":"B33","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1186\/1744-859X-6-10","article-title":"Suicide risk in schizophrenia: Learning from the past to change the future","volume":"6","author":"Pompili","year":"2007","journal-title":"Ann Gen Psychiatry"},{"key":"B34","first-page":"175","article-title":"Traditional and complementary medicine","volume":"121","author":"Gqaleni","year":"2007","journal-title":"South Africa Health Rev"},{"key":"B35","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1037\/prj0000630","article-title":"Broadening understanding of individual choices about psychiatric medication use in psychiatric rehabilitation","volume":"47","author":"Roe","year":"2024","journal-title":"Psychiatr Rehabil J"},{"key":"B36","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.2975\/28.2004.122.128","article-title":"Persons with psychosis as active agents interacting with their disorder","volume":"28","author":"Roe","year":"2004","journal-title":"Psychiatr Rehabil J."},{"key":"B37","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1176\/appi.ps.59.4.437","article-title":"Collaboration between psychiatrists and clergy in recognizing and treating serious mental illness","volume":"59","author":"Farrell","year":"2008","journal-title":"Psychiatr Serv"},{"key":"B38","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1186\/s12888-018-1818-4","article-title":"Community-based rehabilitation intervention for people with schizophrenia in Ethiopia (RISE): A 12 month mixed methods pilot study","volume":"18","author":"Asher","year":"2018","journal-title":"BMC Psychiatry"},{"key":"B39","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/0020764008093957","article-title":"Knowledge about schizophrenia and attitudes towards people with schizophrenia in Greece","volume":"55","author":"Economou","year":"2009","journal-title":"Int J Soc Psychiatry"},{"key":"B40","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"897833","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyt.2022.897833","article-title":"Transformative learning in the setting of religious healers: A case study of consultative mental health workshops with religious healers, ethiopia","volume":"13","author":"Baheretibeb","year":"2022","journal-title":"Front Psychiatry"},{"key":"B41","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"375","DOI":"10.1016\/S0160-2527(00)00033-9","article-title":"Employment policy: Financial support versus promoting economic independence","volume":"23","author":"Baron","year":"2000","journal-title":"Int J Law Psychiat"},{"key":"B42","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"96","DOI":"10.14419\/ijans.v5i1.5565\"10.14419\/ijans.v5i1.5565","article-title":"Schizophrenia: its psychological effects on family caregivers","volume":"5","author":"Riley-McHugh","year":"2016","journal-title":"Int J Advanced Nurs Stud"}],"container-title":["Frontiers in Psychiatry"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fpsyt.2025.1470656\/full","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,3,3]],"date-time":"2025-03-03T12:53:55Z","timestamp":1741006435000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fpsyt.2025.1470656\/full"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,3,3]]},"references-count":42,"alternative-id":["10.3389\/fpsyt.2025.1470656"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fpsyt.2025.1470656","relation":{},"ISSN":["1664-0640"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1664-0640","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,3,3]]},"article-number":"1470656"}}