Trust and collaboration between patients and staff in SUD treatment: A qualitative study of patients’ reflections on inpatient SUD treatment four years after discharge

Abstract

Background and aim: Substance use disorder (SUD) is multifactorial, complex, and involves the severe problematic use of alcohol, prescription drugs, and other substances. People with SUD have long histories of perceived stigma, marginalisation, exclusion, social isolation, and shame. Moreover, patients with SUD are often treated as untrustworthy and incapable of actively participating in their treatment planning, even by healthcare and social services workers. Methods: Through in-depth interviews with former patients who have undergone SUD treatment, we explored their reflections on the treatment content. Interpretative phenomenological analysis revealed that some informants experienced aspects of the treatment as valuable, whereas others considered the same treatment useless or harmful. Results: Essential aspects of treatment were developing self-esteem and optimism about the future, developing strategies for coping with stress and challenging emotions and situations, developing relationships with family and friends, and preparing for life after inpatient treatment. Relationships with staff were described as crucial in all parts of the treatment. Conclusion: In conclusion, we suggest that a transition to a more collaborative treatment philosophy would be ethically and professionally valuable for providing support and treatment and enhancing patients’ perceptions of empowerment, inclusion, participation, and well-being on their terms, in cooperation with supportive others.

Psychotherapie bei Substanzabhängigkeit und psychischer Komorbidität

“…Sitzung abstinent sein, andernfalls soll eine suchttherapeutische Behandlung eingeleitet werden. Psychotherapeut*innen haben oft Vorbehalte in Bezug auf die Behandlung von SKS -Betroffene machen die Erfahrung, dass sie als nicht vertrauenswürdig und unfähig wahrgenommen werden, aktiv an ihrer Behandlung mitzuwirken [5].…”

Drug control and human rights in the Russian Federation

“…Corney and du Plessis (2022) set out to understand Australian first-year university residential college students' alcohol consumption, their experience of alcohol-related harms and their alcohol knowledge. Wangensteen and Hystad (2022) carried out in-depth interviews with former patients who have undergone SUD treatment, exploring their reflections on the treatment content.…”

Equine-assisted therapy effectiveness in improving emotion regulation, self-efficacy, and perceived self-esteem of patients suffering from substance use disorders

“…Moreover, SUD patients may have a feeling of low perceived self-esteem [ 7 ], so that improving their self-esteem proved to be of great help in the success of their treatment [ 8 ]. Similarly, self-efficacy plays an important role in the proper management of SUD since it reflects a person’s ability to use own skills in a certain situation to achieve a certain goal, and thus it was shown to improve the prognoses of SUD patients [ 9 ].…”