Background: Understanding perceived influences on recovery following a first episode of psychosis could help improve services.
Material: Thematic analysis was used to examine important influences on early recovery identified by 30 individuals receiving services in an early intervention programme.
Discussion: Social support, medication, meaningful activities and lifestyle modification were identified as helpful, and stigma, substance abuse and medication side effects as harmful. Perceptions of benefits of social support and the negative effects of stigma were particularly prominent.
Conclusions: Results suggest the importance of assistance with engagement in valued activities and relationships, and provision of messages of worth and hope for recovery.
Keywords: First-episode; early intervention; recovery; social support; stigma.