The experience of mental disorder patients using psychotropic medication under the perspective of complex thinking

Abstract

Objective: to understand how mental disorder patients experience the use of psychotropic medications. Method: a qualitative, exploratory and descriptive research, which used Edgar Morin’s complex thinking as theoretical reference. The data were collected through a semi-structured interview applied to 26 mental disorder patients with psychotropic medical prescription and who were subjected to theme category-based analysis. Results: a central category emerged “The complex experience of mental disorder patients in the use of psychotropic medication”. This category shows the interrelations between thematic categories, such as: experiencing the effects of psychotropic medications; using psychotropic medication irregularly; identifying the advantages and difficulties of using psychotropic medication; and developing strategies to maintain the regular use of psychotropic medication. Conclusions: the experiences of mental disorder patients use of psychotropic medications is a dynamic and complex process that encompasses the multidimensionality involving human beings and their treatment.