Personal recovery in bipolar disorder: Systematic review and “best fit” framework synthesis of qualitative evidence – a POETIC adaptation of CHIME

Personal recovery, living a satisfying, hopeful life alongside symptoms, has become an increasingly valued aim across mental health care agendas internationally. However, there is little understanding of how people experience personal recovery the mood challenges characteristic bipolar disorder diagnosis. frameworks have been developed for populations with mixed psychiatric diagnoses, predominantly psychotic disorders. This systematic review qualitative data used widely adopted processes Connectedness, Hope and optimism, Identity, Meaning purpose, Empowerment (CHIME) in “best fit” framework synthesis to understand experiences disorder. Included studies were coded deductive analysis based on CHIME inductive thematic aspects beyond priori framework. A comprehensive search six literature databases led inclusion twelve articles published 2010-2020. Deductive coding supported fit but revealed difficulties, losses, tensions within processes. The proposed disorder, Purpose meaning, Optimism hope, Empowerment, Tensions, Connectedness (POETIC), organises all around these tensions. Diversity among study participants was limited majority middle-aged, female, Western participants. compact POETIC tailored directly applicable clinical practice objectives. It highlights need professionals introduce realistic balanced way address recent criticism by service user organisations as overly optimistic.