Travelling in time: using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) to examine temporal aspects of the personal experience of mental health issues
Jonathan Smith
Birkbeck University of London, United Kingdom
In this talk I will explore the ways in which experiential qualitative methodology can be used to
engage with the dynamic temporal qualities of mental health. I will do this by drawing on a number
of studies I have conducted which have employed interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) to
conduct detailed examination of these processes. The studies I will consider have explored: the
psychologically debilitating consequences of chronic pain; the long-term impact of multi-systemic
therapy; the effectiveness of a modified CBT intervention for young people with epilepsy and mental
health difficulties. I will consider different conceptualizations of temporal and longitudinal occurring
in this type of qualitative work.