A Systematic Review and Thematic Synthesis of Qualitative Literature on personal recovery and voice hearing

Personal recovery literature has been influential in the conceptualisation of emotional distress and service provision. While personal recovery in psychosis has been well-studied, voice hearing literature has not been reviewed to elucidate recovery processes. Five databases were systematically searched to identify relevant qualitative recovery literature. 12 eligible studies were included in this review and an appraisal tool was applied to assess quality. Thematic synthesis was used to examine results. Three superordinate themes were found relating to 'Recovery Phases', 'Recovery Facilitators' and 'Barriers to Recovery'. Papers included descriptions of finding voices distressing initially yet moving toward integrating and accepting voices. Searching for meaning versus seeking distance from voices were pivotal processes to recovery pathways. Enabling and disrupting recovery experiences are discussed within a proposed model. Recovery in voice hearing is an individual and potentially ongoing process. Future research should seek to examine recovery factors in voice hearing longitudinally and add further evidence to the supportive role services can play in recovery and voice hearing. [Abstract copyright: This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.]