What we talk about when we talk about recovery: a systematic review and best-fit framework synthesis of qualitative literature.

Background: The recovery approach is increasingly popular among mental-health services, but there is a lack of consensus about its applicability and it has been criticised for imposing professionalised ideas onto what was originally a service-user concept.

Aims: To carry out a review and synthesis of qualitative research to answer the question: "What do we know about how service users with severe and enduring mental illness experience the process of recovery?" It was hoped that this would improve clarity and increase understanding.

Method: A systematic review identified 15 peer-reviewed articles examining experiences of recovery.