Post-Traumatic Growth in First Episode Psychosis
Summary
Post-Traumatic Growth (PTG) in First Episode Psychosis (FEP) refers to positive psychological changes that individuals may experience following the distress of a psychotic episode. Traditionally, FEP has been viewed through the lens of symptom reduction and functional recovery; however recent perspectives highlight that individuals can derive new strengths, altered life perspectives and improved relationships in the aftermath. Comparative studies indicate that processes underpinning PTG in FEP mirror those observed in other traumatic contexts, encompassing cognitive restructuring, meaning-making and enhanced coping self-efficacy. Empirical work suggests that growth may manifest across domains such as appreciation of life, personal resilience, self-identity consolidation and spiritual engagement. These outcomes are frequently facilitated by supportive therapeutic alliances, trauma-informed care and peer-led interventions that foster narrative reconstruction. Modelling of PTG in FEP has advanced from individualistic frameworks towards more complex ecological conceptualisations accounting for interactions among personal factors, social networks and broader cultural influences. The global significance of PTG in FEP lies in its potential to inform recovery-oriented mental healthcare, enabling practitioners to complement symptom management with interventions designed to nurture positive change and resilience.
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Post-Traumatic Growth in First Episode Psychosis publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in post-traumatic growth in first episode psychosis across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Post-Traumatic Growth (PTG): Positive psychological change experienced as a result of the struggle with highly challenging life circumstances.
First Episode Psychosis (FEP): The initial occurrence of psychotic symptoms, including hallucinations or delusions, typically prompting clinical intervention.
Coping Self-Efficacy: An individual’s belief in their ability to effectively manage and adapt to stressful or traumatic experiences.
Meaning-Making: The cognitive and emotional process through which individuals interpret and integrate traumatic events into their life narratives.
Bioecological Model: A theoretical framework positing that human development and adaptation emerge from interactions among individual, relational, community and societal systems over time.
References
- Post-traumatic growth in psychosis: a systematic review and narrative synthesis. BMC Psychiatry (2021).
- Perceived facilitators and predictors of positive change and posttraumatic growth following a first episode of psychosis: a mixed methods study using a convergent design. BMC Psychiatry (2020).
- Growth in the Aftermath of Psychosis: Characterizing Post-traumatic Growth in Persons With First Episode Psychosis in Singapore. Frontiers in Psychiatry (2022).
- A bioecological approach to conceptualising posttraumatic growth in psychosis. Psychosis (2024).
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