Background: At present there is no coherent theory of mental health recovery capable of guiding clinical practice.
Materials: On the basis of 32 interviews with those recovering in Ireland, a grounded theory study generated a theory of recovery as reconnecting with life. This paper reports extended findings on the perceived roles of medication in recovery.
Results: Medication combined with other strategies was viewed as both a facilitator and a barrier of reconnecting with life. Reduction and change of medication were reported as facilitating reconnection.
Conclusions: Use of medication may need to be constantly revised to match self-perceived progress of reconnecting with life.
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