"Why I Stay in Community Psychiatric Rehabilitation" -A Semi-Structured Survey in Schizophrenic Patients

Abstract

Aims: Although community psychiatric rehabilitation plays an important role in returning schizophrenic patients to the society, Many patients in China stay in rehabilitation centers for longer periods of time and subsequently fail to integrate. This study aimed is to explore the underlying causes of this trend and identify possible solutions.Methods: A total of 28 schizophrenic patients were enrolled in this study. We used semi-structured telephone interviews to obtain patients’ perceptions on the effectiveness and attraction of community mental rehabilitation, as well as the difficulties of social inclusion, then applied the grounded theory to analyze the responses. Investigation of interviews include effect of community rehabilitation, attractiveness, and difficulties in social communication.Results: Most patients believe that they have gained knowledge, improved skills, friendship and social circles through community mental rehabilitation, with the sense of belonging and enriched life strongly attracting them to the rehabilitation centers. They felt that the difficulty of further integration into society is mainly because of social prejudice and rejection. In addition, the activities of community mental rehabilitation meet the needs of social communication, which also hinder patients from further entering the society.Conclusions: Schizophrenic patients with long-term stay in community mental rehabilitation centers meet their friendship, sense of belonging and social needs by participating in rehabilitation activities. Providing special social opportunity for these patients can get them out of the rehabilitation center. Overall, it is possible for patients to gradually return to society in a collective form.