Table 1 Example—Interpretation of themes—Heading, Descriptor, Exemplar process

Hannon et al. 2017

Treatment experience

Novel intensive community treatment was preferred to the inpatient care – more reflective of real world, therapeutic alliance being held and the slow pace no pressure was key

everyone in the team was so compassionate, nobody judged me…I think until you’ve built up trust with anyone its hard to make the changes… if I hadn't had X who knew me… helping me carry on, then I couldn’t have got so far

Treatment help versus harm

Hope

287

Function of AN

a positive presence in an unhappy life… helpful… feel better.. pride… comfort / safety..distraction from uncomfortable feelings More acceptable… less isolated

Really low… lose a bit of weight feel better about myself for just a second

Theme 2a meaning of AN to Self

288

Self criticism v’s self acceptance

self blame and guilt for having AN versus caring, accepting and compassionate towards self

..my own fault… wasn't good enough… im the problem

At first that was so alien to me (self-kindness)… never thought about doing anything nice for myself…do for other people… but not for me

Theme 4b

288

Isolation versus connection

isolated, empty and lonely because unable to trust others

I remember feeling quite lonely…felt I didn't want to be around anybody else… like I had caused all the problems… im scared of being alone all my life

Theme 3

288

Hopelessness versus Hope

long time in treatment with little change reduced hope more hopeful if specific obtainable goals

I feel like really, really hopeless and its like soul destroying. Because I can't see anything changing

Theme 2b

Hope

290

Stuckness versus Change

stuck, trapped, afraid and conflicted, frustrating and tormenting place. A tipping point

…its really, really frustrating to understand… at the stage I don’t want to change. I want to change…. No I don’t want to change… I want to get better..but don’t want anything to change… its just infuriating

Theme 2b

290–1