The purpose of the study was to describe patients' conceptions and experiences of care in compulsory treatment for acute onset of psychosis. Twelve patients with experience of compulsory treatment were interviewed in 2008-2009, and phenomenographic analysis was used to analyse the data. Two descriptive categories emerged in the results: receiving needed support and perceiving respectful care. Patients perceived that coercive interventions were positive if they were given good care, if they were given the shelter they needed, if they got help with understanding and if the setting was healing. Patients felt respected if they were treated like human beings, if they were allowed to retain as much of their autonomy as possible and if they were invited to participate even though they were under compulsory treatment. The results show that it is important to prevent patients from being traumatized during compulsory treatment and to take advantage of patients' inner resources. Patients' experiences of compulsory treatment can form the basis for preparing an individual action plan for future compulsory treatment. Individual action plans could empower patients during compulsory treatment and improve their experience of care.

BackgroundCoercive psychiatric care in Sweden has been criticized by the UN and alternative therapies are called for upon from Swedish politicians. The Early Signs Action Plan was developed to reduce force and promote cooperation between patients and their healthcare providers.AimDescribe the patients’ experience of care when the Early Signs Action Plan is activated in connection with an exacerbation of psychotic illness.MethodsQualitative research study. Semi-structured interviews (anticipated N=10) will be conducted with patients for whom Early Signs Action Plans were activated. Interviews are recorded and transcribed verbatim. Content analysis is used to analyze the data.ResultsPreliminary results from the first five interviews suggest that the action plan facilitates shared decision making and encourages safety measures, and compulsory inpatient care can thus be avoided. The results from the entire study will be presented at the Conference.DiscussionPreliminary findings suggest that the Early Signs Action Plan seemed to be a useful tool to im-prove patient participation and reduce the need for compulsory inpatient care when exacerbations occur.

Background In the recent years person-centered methods have been developed to involve relatives in the care of their next of kin. The Early Signs Action Plan (ESAP) was developed to facilitate relatives’ participation in the care of their next of kin in psychiatric outpatient units specialized in the treatment of persons with schizophrenia and similar disorders. The aim was to investigate relatives’ experiences regarding the activation of the action plan for their next of kin. Methods The study is a qualitative interview study using a semi-structured interview guide. The interviews were conducted with relatives (N=13) to outpatients whose Early Signs Action Plan had been activated. The interviews were digitally recorded and transcribed verbatim. The material was then analyzed with qualitative content analysis. Results ESAP was positively received by the relatives and most of them experienced that they were participating in the planning of the care of their next of kin’s. Participating in the care also implied a feeling of security and awareness about their next of kin’s early warning signs and what to do in case of a relapse. Relatives also indicated that the ESAP is vulnerable during on call time and during vacation periods. Outdated paths to get in contact with psychiatric services on call time were reported as problematic since this information is crucial for getting in touch with care outside of office hours. Discussion ESAP seems to be a useful tool for the involvement of relatives in the care of their next of kin.