Family support for persons with schizophrenia after physical restraint and confinement

The Relationship of Medication Adherence and Social Functioning of Persons with Schizophrenia in the Long-term Period

BACKGROUND: Medication adherence is an essential aspect of the daily lives of persons with schizophrenia, while in-compliance is related to their social functioning performance. AIM: The study aims to analyze the prolonged relationship between medication adherence and the social functioning of persons with chronic schizophrenia. METHODS: A descriptive correlation method was carried out on 60 persons with schizophrenia at Pasung in North Sumatra Province, Indonesia, using questionnaires. RESULTS: The results indicate that 68.3–51.7% of respondents had low adherence to medication and social functioning, respectively. Spearman rank claimed that there is a strong relationship between medication adherence and social functioning among chronic schizophrenia persons. Furthermore, the result reported that medication adherence positively affected social functioning among persons with schizophrenia. CONCLUSIONS: Medication adherence is a priority for maintaining the behavior of people living with schizophrenia to help them control their psychotic symptoms. Therefore, it can enhance their social functioning performance and daily living activity. Family participation is needed for continuous medication program and relapse rate prevention.

Lessons learned from a cross-sectional survey among patients and staff in an acute psychiatric unit during an ongoing pandemic outbreak

This current cross sectional survey was carried out amongst patients and staff in an acute psychiatric inpatient unit in the very first weeks of the ongoing pandemic outbreak of COVID-19 in Norway. Most patients found the visiting restrictions difficult, many reported that the pandemic made them feel unsafe, affected their sleep and that they feared transmission from other patients. Among staff, almost half were afraid that they would contract the virus, a majority feared they would bring the virus home and infect their family and one third were concerned that the pandemic compromised the treatment provided for the patients.