Uncertainty of Illness for Pers with Schizophrenia

Abstract

This qualitative research report presents an illustration of Mishel's (1990) reconceptualization of uncertainty in illness theory applied to persons with schizophrenia. The researcher interviewed 6 persons with schizophrenia and 5 family members. The informants reported being uncertain about whether their medicine would keep working, whether they would be able to provide for their children, whether they could stay on their medicine, whether their symptoms would improve, when the next relapse would be, and even whether they would survive. They appeared to be experiencing differing degrees of uncertainty and a variety of manifestations of probabilistic thinking. For some, uncertainty provided the opportunity for hope. For others, the uncertainty was perceived as a danger. For all of them, their view of life had changed.

Hope and interpersonal psychiatric/mental health nursing: a systematic review of the literature – part one

“…Uncertainty appears to be an integral part of living with schizophrenia and this appears to have an equivocal relationship with hope. In a qualitative study, Baier (1995) found that informants with schizophrenia experienced uncertainty about their 'illness' and their futures. For some clients and families, uncertainty spawned fear and worry; for others, uncertainty generated hope.…”

Living With Serious Mental Illness: The Desire for Normalcy

“…Studies that were theory based included research by Harris (1990), Harris and Williams (1991), and Pickens and Humble (1991), who all used Orem's self-care deficit theory of nursing; Dzurec (1994), who used Rogerian nursing theory; Baier (1995), who used uncertainty in illness theory; and Buccheri et al (1996), who used a conceptual model of symptom management. Investigations that portray the perspectives of people with mental illness are valuable in themselves, but without some theoretical foundation, their potential for advancing theorybased psychiatric nursing knowledge and practice is limited.…”

“…Some of these aspects include perceptions of self (Dzurec, 1990); perceptions of the mental illness (Baier, 1995;Vellenga & Christensen, 1994); perceptions of abilities, problems, and limitations (Harris, 1990;Harris & Williams, 1991;Pickens & Humble, 1991); daily life experiences (Chafetz, 1996;Godschalx, 1989); the experience of auditory hallucinations (Buccheri, Trygstad, Kanas, Waldron, & Dowling, 1996); perceptions of involuntary hospitalization (Joseph-Kinzelman, Taynor, Rubin, Ossa, & Risner, 1994); and experiences of power (Dzurec, 1994).…”

Understanding Uncertainty Among Critically Ill Patients in the Intensive Care Unit Using Mishel’s Theory of Uncertainty of Illness

“…33,[36][37][38] Earlier studies conducted were in conditions such as long-term diabetes, 39 persons with schizophrenia, 40 human immune deficiency virusYpositive patients, [41][42][43][44][45][46][47][48] and adolescents with cystic fibrosis. 49 The theory has been used both in patients with acute and chronic illnesses.…”