The experiential world of the chronic psychiatric patient in a rehabilitation centre

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to describe the experiential world of the chronic psychiatric patient in a rehabilitation centre.'Various stumbling blocks in the recovery process of chronic psychiatric patients in a rehabilitation centre were identified. The centre is highly structured and democratic decision-making does not always transpire. The external environment is a residential area characterised by violence.The question that arose was: How does a chronic psychiatric patient experience his/her world in the rehabilitation centre?The approach followed was that of the Nursing for the Whole Person Theory. With this theory as basis, the chronic psychiatric patient is viewed as a whole person in interaction with his/her internal and external environments in his/her quest for mental health as integral part of wholeness.An exploratory and descriptive qualitative study, contextual by nature, was used as research design. The research method consisted of phenomenological, semi-structured interviews with chronic psychiatric patients in a rehabilitation centre. The participants in this study were selected in a purposive and non-selective manner. The measures used for reliability and validity were those of Woods and Catanzaro.The central question 'How do you experience living in this rehabilitation centre?' was asked. Similar studies were investigated in order to ascertain similarities and unique aspects of this study.Categories of experience within the unit of assessment of diagnosis from the Nursing for the Whole Person Theory, pointed out both stumbling blocks and facilitating elements.The stumbling blocks encountered by chronic psychiatric patients in a rehabilitation centre in their quest for wholeness were experiences of avoidance, frustration, anxiety, lack of motivation, inability to maintain long-standing relationships and dispute. Facilitating elements involved experiences of exercise, the positive experience of a nice atmosphere, safety and a unique place, satisfaction, productivity as value system, internal motivation, adequate facilities in the rehabilitation centre, positive experience of sheltered employment, opportunities to interact socially, rules and regulations, available staff, supportive and friendly co-patients and watching television or reading as recreation. Conclusions, limitations and recommendations were made based on the results of this study.