Recovery from the perspective of individuals with bipolar disorder undergoing treatment at community mental health centres: a multicentre metaphor study

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to examine the experiences, meanings, and perceptions regarding recovery of individuals with bipolar disorder undergoing treatment at four different Community Mental Health Centres (CMHCs) in Türkiye, using metaphor analysis. METHODS: A descriptive phenomenological design, a qualitative research approach, was used. Between August 2024 and January 2025, The study sample consisted of 149 individuals diagnosed with bipolar disorder who received outpatient care at community mental health centres across four provinces of Türkiye. Data were collected using a nine-item 'Metaphorical Perceptions Data Collection Form' prepared by the researchers. Descriptive statistical methods (percentages, means, and standard deviations) and content analysis techniques were used to analyse the data. Ethics committee approval and participant consent were obtained for this study. RESULTS: According to the findings, 54.74% of the participants were female, 57.2% were single, and the mean age was 40.61 ± 12.88. 30.9% of the participants were university graduates, and 65.8% were unemployed. 24.8% of participants had received treatment for more than 20 years, while 46.3% had been hospitalised one to three times. One hundred and twelve metaphors related to recovery were identified in the data. These were grouped into six categories: 'Recovery as the Regaining of Independence', 'Recovery as the Reconstruction of Life', 'Recovery as a Pathway to Inner Serenity', 'Recovery as an Element of Personal Development', 'Recovery as an Element of Social Acceptance', and 'Recovery as an Elusive Goal'. CONCLUSIONS: These findings reveal that psychiatric care should guide the individual's subjective recovery process, considering not only the clinical but also the psychosocial and personal aspects of care. Mental health professionals, particularly psychiatric nurses, should develop personalised and recovery-focused interventions that consider the metaphors used by patients.