“Life Is Not a Wedding Ceremony”: A Grounded Theory Study on Recovery Among Patients Admitted for Psychiatric Care in Lebanon

In Lebanon, personal narratives around recovery from mental illness are seldom researched. With the series of crises Lebanon is going through, determining what recovery means to its citizens is imperative. We used a grounded theory approach to explore how patients in Lebanon conceptualize recovery from mental illness. We interviewed 10 inpatients from a tertiary center in Lebanon, analyzing the transcriptions using Straussian grounded theory methodology. We approached three participants again for feedback interviews to consolidate and receive feedback on the emerged theory. We synthesized the BLINC (Balance, Liaising, Insight, Niche, and Contentment) theory, which suggests that to achieve recovery, the person must be in balance with their behavioral system. This is achieved through trusting their close observers, appraising their mental state, connecting to their environment, accepting time, unifying their units of self, and fitting enough into the sociocultural milieu. When balance is achieved, people can liaise different aspects of themselves, attain insight, and find their niche. The desired outcome of recovery is contentment. BLINC is consistent with evolutionary psychiatry principles and the Lebanese local culture. It offers a pragmatic framework to provide culturally appropriate mental health care in Lebanon. Recommendations for clinical practice are outlined which can be implemented in existing patient-doctor interactions as well as existing therapy orientations.