Abstract
Introduction
People who experience recurrent depressive episodes often have on‐going cognitive problems that impact on their functional recovery. These cognitive difficulties have been identified as impacting on social, interpersonal and occupational functioning and can result in vulnerability to relapse.
Aim
The aim of this qualitative study was to explore participants’ subjective experiences of cognitive impairment after discharge from mental health services following treatment for recurrent depression.
Methods
The study was designed as a qualitative study in order to best capture participants’ subjective experiences. Data were collected by semi‐structured interviews and were analysed using a process of thematic analysis.
Results
Twenty participants took part in this study. All participants described experiences of either 1) ‘Being stuck’; or 2) ‘Being preoccupied with own thoughts’; however, all participants described the experiences in the third theme: ‘It stops you living to your potential’.
Implications for practice
In order to promote recovery in a meaningful way mental health nurses need to provide information about and strategies for managing cognitive difficulties associated with recurrent mood disorders.