Aim: Antipsychotic medication is the predominant intervention used for psychosis in the UK. However, there are risks associated, it is not always effective and service-users express ambivalence towards taking it. The research aims to explore community mental health professionals’ perspectives on working with people with psychosis who express antipsychotic ‘medication refusal’. Method: A mixed-methodology was utilised. A survey of community mental health professionals was undertaken (N=74) to enquire about frequency of medication refusal and actions taken by professionals. Four uni-professional focus-groups were held to discuss the topic. The resulting data was subjected to a discursive analysis. Findings: Antipsychotic medication refusal was presented as a common experience by participants, with service-users often stopping against advice. A substantial proportion of survey participants reported experience of supporting service-users without using antipsychotics or to come off, with good rates of success. ‘Risk talk’ was a prevalent feature of the focus-groups: a range of ‘risk’ repertoires were drawn on by participants to warrant particular actions. Implications: Government initiatives relating to service-user choice, empowerment and recovery in mental health are in opposition to more pervasive ‘risk’ discourses. The notion of ‘risk’ in relation to antipsychotics needs further consideration, with professionals made more aware of its social construction and alternative conceptualisations of psychosis and antipsychotics.

Le trouble du déficit de l’attention avec ou sans hyperactivité est un sujet qui a été maintes fois étudié. Pourtant, peu de recherches ont été construites en se basant sur l’expérience des personnes directement concernées. Ce mémoire propose une analyse exploratoire des récits de vie de 8 personnes âgées de 20 à 30 ans qui ont été diagnostiquées pendant l’enfance ou l’adolescence. Les principaux thèmes abordés par celles-ci sont : les relations familiales, les relations avec le milieu scolaire, le processus de diagnostic, la relation avec la médication, la relation avec les experts, le rapport possible avec d’autres « problématiques » vécues simultanément et leur perception du regard de l’autre. À travers leur récit, on comprend que ces personnes vivent un rapport complexe avec leur diagnostic ne pouvant être réduit qu’à quelques facteurs. De cette manière, il est primordial de s’intéresser à leur expérience pour en dresser le portrait le plus complet possible et en comprendre les conséquences pour elles. / Although the subject of Attention Deficit Disorder with or without Hyperactivity has been widely studied, most studies have not considered directly the experiences of diagnosed persons. Thus, this exploratory research analyses the life narratives of 8 people aged between 20 and 30 years old whom have been diagnosed in their infancy or teenage years. Certain themes have been discussed throughout the interviews such as : their relationship with their families, their relationship with school, their perceptions of medication, their diagnosis’ process, their relationship with experts, the possibility of living simultaneously others “problems” and their perception of others’ opinion regarding the diagnosis. As their story is told, the listener understands the complex relation they have with their diagnosis which cannot be reduce to a few aspects. Thus, it is necessary to consider their experience in order to paint a picture as complete as possible and to better understand the consequences a diagnosis has on their life.