Autonomous medication management group in a psychosocial care center: participants’ experience

Abstract

Background: Autonomous Medication Management Group (GGAM) is a group approach for users of psychiatric drugs to share experiences so that they can be protagonists and co-responsible for the decisions relating to their treatment. Objective: To describe the experience of the participants of the GGAM in a psychosocial care center in Brazil. Methodology: The study is qualitative, exploratory, and descriptive, using the structured interview method whose analysis followed the theoretical framework proposed by Minayo. The multidisciplinary team indicated 6 users with a mental disorder, who were prescribed psychotropic drugs for more than 6 months and who participated in the GGAM. Results: Categories emerged such as Context, Experience, and Effects of the experience of participants in the GGAM. The description of their experiences showed that the group is regarded as a space for talking and listening. Conclusion: The participation in the GGAM provided increased knowledge about psychiatric medication, help in dealing with treatment, strengthened relationships, protagonism and autonomy, and contribution to the appropriateness of the singular therapeutic project.