Descriptive methods of record keeping and studies have traditionally been the cornerstone of research into the study of human behavior. Quantitative research has been more prominent in current academic journals. Nevertheless, there has been a resurgence in the interest in qualitative research and the field of psychiatry provides ample opportunities for it. Qualitative research is ideally suited for research into psychological and social domains. Mental disorders are influenced by an interplay of psychological, social and anthropological elements. A qualitative approach to studying metal health conditions can thus have a wide-ranging repercussion, ranging for improving treatment methods, improving care delivery and affecting policy changes.
Crawford MJ, Ghosh P, Keen R. Use of qualitative research methods in general medicine and psychiatry: publication trends in medical journals 1990–2000. Int J Soc Psychiatry 2003;49(4):308–311. DOI: 10.1177/0020764003494007.
Srivastava AB, Kobiessy FH, Gold MS. Qualitative vs quantitative methods in psychiatric research: updated. Methods Mol Biol 2019;2011:23–37. DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-9554-7_2.
Conde Gutiérrez F. Encounters and disencounters between qualitative and quantitative perspective in history of medicine. Rev Esp Salud Publica 2002;76(5):395–408.
Bassett R. Time to catch up…qualitative research in child and adolescent psychiatry. J Can Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2010;19(1):2.
Forsner T, Hansson J, Brommels M, et al. Implementing clinical guidelines in psychiatry: a qualitative study of perceived facilitators and barriers. BMC Psychiatry 2010;10:8. DOI: 10.1186/1471-244X-10-8.
Goering P, Boydell KM, Pignatiello A. The relevance of qualitative research for clinical programs in psychiatry. Can J Psychiatry 2008;53(3):145–151. DOI: 10.1177/070674370805300304.
Streiner DL. Qualitative research in psychiatry. Can J Psychiatry 2008;53(3):135–136. DOI: 10.1177/070674370805300301.
van der Watt ASJ, van de Water T, Nortje G, et al. The perceived effectiveness of traditional and faith healing in the treatment of mental illness: a systematic review of qualitative studies. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 2018;53(6):555–566. DOI: 10.1007/s00127-018-1519-9.
Bleiker J, Morgan-Trimmer S, Knapp K, et al. Navigating the maze: qualitative research methodologies and their philosophical foundations. Radiography (Lond) 2019;25(Suppl 1):S4–S8. DOI: 10.1016/j.radi.2019.06.008.
Flick U. Qualitative research in social psychiatry—methods and applications. Psychiatr Prax 1995;22(3):91–96.
Ratnapalan S. Qualitative approaches: variations of grounded theory methodology. Can Fam Physician 2019;65(9):667–668.
Chapman AL, Hadfield M, Chapman CJ. Qualitative research in healthcare: an introduction to grounded theory using thematic analysis. J R Coll Physicians Edinb 2015;45(3):201–205. DOI: 10.4997/JRCPE.2015.305.
Carr EM, Zhang GD, Ming JHY, et al. Qualitative research: an overview of emerging approaches for data collection. Australas Psychiatry 2019;27(3):307–309. DOI: 10.1177/1039856219828164.
Mays N, Pope C. Rigour and qualitative research. BMJ 1995;311(6997):109–112. DOI: 10.1136/bmj.311.6997.109.
Collingridge DS, Gantt EE. The quality of qualitative research. Am J Med Qual 2019;34(5):439–445. DOI: 10.1177/1062860619873187.
