Toward the recovery of a sense of self: An interpretative phenomenological analysis of patients' experience of body-oriented psychotherapy for schizophrenia

Objective: Increasing evidence supports the efficacy of body-oriented psychotherapy for schizophrenia. Yet, so far no research has investigated outcome in relation to therapy process: why and how body-oriented psychotherapy is effective. In this study we qualitatively explore participants’ experience of a manualized body-oriented psychotherapy (BPT) for schizophrenia to shed light on the process of therapeutic change. Method: We conducted in-depth interviews with 6 participants who completed a 10-week BPT group intervention. Interviews explored participants’ experience of change and helpful aspects of therapy and were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Findings: We identified 6 master themes across the interviews: (a) Being a whole: body-mind connection; (b) Being agentic and being able; (c) Being unique and worthy: being accepted for who one is; (d) Changing interactions: engaging in authentic interpersonal contact; (e) Being part of a group: feeling integrated; (f) Hope and investing in the future. Conclusion: We discuss the clinical implications for each theme and bring the findings together by describing therapeutic change in schizophrenia as a recovery of sense of self at different but interlocked levels.
Moreover, we put forward recommendations for both specific and common factors for schizophrenia therapy.