Living with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder: an interpretative phenomenological analysis
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- Title
- Living with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder: an interpretative phenomenological analysis
- Creator
- Tara Davis
- Supervisor
- Professor John Nuttall.
- Date
- 2014
- Abstract
- This study explores the experience of living with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder. There is a lack of existing research on the impact of being given and living with diagnostic labels. Several studies in this area show that there may be harmful effects. The aim was to understand the meaning of diagnosis for participants and its impact on how they view and relate to themselves. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with six participants and analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Findings suggest that being diagnosed with bipolar disorder influences the way participants experience themselves and think about their emotions. It has emerged that participants identify positive benefits of diagnosis in terms of containment and enabling them to step back from their emotions. Diagnosis appears to facilitate psychological space which allows participants to relate to their emotions with increased clarity. However, this self-awareness effect may be paradoxical. An increased sense of self-awareness in some respects appears to enable participants to avoid deeper selfreflection, particularly with regards to attributes which contradict their self-concept. The diagnosis is experienced by some as confusing and anxiety-provoking. Interpretation of the data has shown that attempts to consolidate or resolve this confusion are effective as temporary measures which mask rather than address the problem. Four superordinate themes emerged from the data: 1. 'Containing Effects of Diagnosis'; 2. 'Confusion'; 3. 'The Self-Awareness Paradox'; and 4. 'Bipolar Identity'. Clinical implications of the research findings are discussed and it is recommended that further research should be conducted to evaluate the impact of diagnosis on patients in more detail. It is suggested that counselling psychology may seek to differentiate from clinical psychology by means of an alternative approach grounded in research which emphasises a pragmatic focus on possible therapeutic benefits of diagnostic labels.
- Subject
- Mental health|Bipolar disorder||
- Psychotherapy and Counselling
- Extent
- 161 pages : illustrations ; 31 cm
- Format
- Publisher
- Regent's University London
- degree
- PhD in Psychotherapy and Counselling
- Description
- EThOS ID: 646083
- Language
- English
- Date Issued
- 2014
- Type
- Thesis & Dissertation
- Rights Holder
- Regent's University London & Tara Davis
- Item sets
- Theses or Dissertation