RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: The concept of service user involvement is an evolving concept in the mental health-care literature. OBJECTIVE: This study sought to explore and analyse the concept of service user involvement as used in within the field of mental health care. METHODOLOGICAL APPROACH: An evolutionary concept analysis was conducted using a literature-based sample extracted from an electronic database search. One hundred and thirty-four papers met the inclusion criteria and were analysed to discover key attributes, antecedents and consequences of service user involvement and to produce a definition of the concept. FINDINGS: Five key attributes of service user involvement within the context of mental health care were identified: a person-centred approach, informed decision making, advocacy, obtaining service user views and feedback and working in partnership. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Clarity of the attributes and definition of the concept of service user involvement aims to promote understanding of the concept among key stakeholders including mental health professionals, service users and community and voluntary organizations. The findings of the research have utility in the areas of theory and policy development, research on service user involvement in mental health care and service user involvement in mental health practice. Directions for further research regarding the concept are identified.