Purpose: To illuminate user experiences of schizophrenia, reasons for receiving antipsychotic medication, and encounters with mental health services.
Design and methods: 24 semistructured qualitative research interviews with schizophrenia patients treated with 3-monthly paliperidone palmitate across Scandinavia were synthesized in qualitative content analysis.
Findings: Participants describe considerable challenges in everyday functioning. Simultaneously, they rate their current mental and physical well-being high and seem satisfied with their lives. These pathways indicate personal recovery.
Practice implications: The participants emphasize the importance of trustful relations with healthcare professionals, therapeutic conversations, antipsychotic medication in a 3-monthly formulation, and support from relatives.
Keywords: PP3M; illness insight; personal recovery; schizophrenia; service user perspectives.
© 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.