The Stockholm Follow-up Study of Users Diagnosed with Psychosis (SUPP): A 10-year Follow-up 2004-2013

[Attitudes of neighbors about the treatment and community life of people with severe mental health disorders in Argentina]

A psychiatric reform is underway in Latin America and the Caribbean. Specifically in Argentina, a model of community mental health is being built, and prolonged psychiatric hospitalizations are still taking place, especially in neuropsychiatric hospitals. Therefore, it is necessary to closely monitor the psychiatric reform. One of the possible ways to monitor the reform is by analyzing society's attitudes towards prolonged psychiatric hospitalization as a mean of mental health treatment. Thus, an analytical observational study was conducted at the Buenos Aires Province, Argentina, in 2021, to analyze the behavior of neighbors of people who had prolonged psychiatric hospitalizations and who received housing support. Questionnaires were applied to neighbors and non-neighbors, addressing the behaviors toward prolonged psychiatric hospitalization as a mean of treatment, social distance toward people who were hospitalized, as well as specific interviews with key informants from neighborhoods where people with severe mental health disorders and who receive housing support live. Based on the answers of neighbors and non-neighbors, no statistically significant differences were identified in behaviors toward prolonged psychiatric hospitalization as a mean of treatment, nor for social distance in relation to people who were hospitalized. Key informants conditioned their assessment of prolonged hospitalization and valued the role of support teams in making community life viable.

Experiences of how brief admission influences daily life functioning among individuals with borderline personality disorder (BPD) and self-harming behaviour

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to explore experiences of how brief admission influences daily life functioning among individuals with borderline personality disorder (BPD) and self-harming behaviour.

BACKGROUND

Brief admission (BA) is a crisis nursing intervention designed to reduce long hospitalisations and the risk of suicide. The intention of the intervention is to develop autonomy and to encourage the patient to take responsibility for and control over their own care and treatment. There are studies in the area that target individuals with psychosis and bipolar disorders, but no previous studies have been found examining how BA impacts upon daily life functioning among people with BPD who self-harm.

DESIGN

A descriptive qualitative design was chosen.

METHODS

Data were collected using qualitative individual interviews with 16 patients with BPD and self-harming behaviour who had been assigned to BA. The data were analysed using conventional content analysis. The study was conducted in accordance with COREQ guidelines.

RESULTS

The results show that BA was perceived as a functioning nursing intervention that promoted self-determination and self-care. This contributed to increased security in daily life. BA made it possible for individuals to maintain everyday routines, employment and relationships more easily.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that BA was experienced to have a positive impact on daily life functioning.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

Brief admission enabled the balance of power to be shifted from the nurse to the patient, and provides conditions for patients to take responsibility for their mental condition and to become aware of early signs of deterioration, in line with the basic ideas of person-centred care.

Experiences and perceptions of people living with schizophrenia in Japan: A qualitative study

This descriptive study used a qualitative inductive approach to investigate the subjective experiences and perceptions of people with schizophrenia living in the community during times of difficulty and how they coped. We conducted semi-structured interviews with nine community-dwelling people with schizophrenia and used the KJ method developed by Kawakita Jiro to structure the data obtained. We identified 10 symbols with his method: bewilderment at the onset; helplessness and longing for death; solitude linked to death; precarious daily life; relationships at risk; fear of being stigmatized; pillars of emotional support; will to overcome; hope to never give up; and living with the illness. The results suggest that community mental health nurses should provide support so their patients can continue to have pillars of emotional support and the will to overcome difficulties, as well as continue to use their coping methods, even when experiencing many difficulties. It is important that nurses understand and share in their patients' difficult experiences and hopes when providing support toward their recovery.