Recovery-oriented psychiatry: oxymoron or catalyst for change?

Abstract

This Personal View provides a normative and conceptual analysis of the intersection between the recovery movement and psychiatry. Although recovery emerged as a grassroots social justice movement emphasising empowerment and systemic change, psychiatry remains rooted in the medical paradigm. We aim to develop a nuanced conceptual framework that fosters academic debate and meaningful implementation, while avoiding superficial or tokenistic adoption of recovery principles. Our analysis explores the contrasting values, ontologies, and epistemologies of these perspectives, identifying points of tension and areas of compatibility. We examine and discuss integrative and non-integrative pluralistic approaches, and we conclude with actionable recommendations for transformation at different organisational levels.