Mental health service users’ experiences of psychiatric re-hospitalisation - an explorative focus group study in six European countries

Abstract

BackgroundPsychiatric re-hospitalisation is considered costly and disruptive to individuals. The perspective of the mental health service user is largely unexplored in literature.The purpose of our study was to explore service users’ experiences of psychiatric re-hospitalisation across six countries in Europe.MethodEight focus groups were conducted in Romania, Slovenia, Finland, Italy, Austria and Norway.ResultsA total of 55 service users participated in the study. All participants had been in receipt of mental health services for at least 1 year, and had experienced more than one psychiatric hospitalisation. The experience of re-hospitalisation was considered: (1) less traumatising than the first hospitalisation, (2) to be necessary, and a relief, (3) occurring by default and without progress, (4) part of the recovery process.ConclusionsPsychiatric re-hospitalisation was considered inevitable by the study participants, in both positive and negative terms. Striking similarities in service user experiences were found across all of the six countries, the first experience of psychiatric hospitalisation emerging as especially significant. Findings indicate the need for further action in order to develop more recovery and person-centred approaches within hospital care. For psychiatric inpatient care to be a positive part of the recovery process, further knowledge on what therapeutic action during the hospital stay would be beneficial, such as therapy, activities and integration with other services.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s12913-018-3317-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Consumer recommendations for enhancing the Safewards model and interventions

“…Literature reveals there is a sense that hospital can provide a semblance of respite and sanctuary for people (Ådnanes et al . ; Bowers ; Bowers et al . ; Olsø et al .…”

‘If we would change things outside we wouldn’t even need to go in…’ supporting recovery via community‐based actions: A focus group study on psychiatric rehospitalization

“…40 Previous analyses explored questions around how it felt to be hospitalized and how it can be avoided. 23,24 The current paper is a secondary analysis of the data in response to learning from previous analyses where authors noted that participants often made mention to actions that were located in the community.…”

“…The interview guide was based on four questions asking participants to talk about 1) how it felt to be hospitalized (positive and negative experiences), 2) how it felt to be rehospitalized, 3) aspects important for avoiding rehospitalization and 4) whether the experience is something which participants are open about when discussing with others. 24 Participants were recruited by convenience sampling via mental health NGOs and/or day centres in each country. The recruitment process was performed by a member of staff at the NGO or day centre in person or via newsletters, home pages or telephone.…”

“…35,36 The aim of the current paper was to explore how attention to community-based actions may support person-centred approaches in relation to psychiatric rehospitalization using qualitative data from the Comparative Effectiveness Research on Psychiatric Hospitalisation by Record Linkage of Large Administrative Data Sets (CEPHOS-LINK) project (www.cephos-link.org). Previous papers from the project report on psychiatric rehospitalization using quantitative register-based methodology 18 and explore meanings and experiences of the phenomenon qualitatively both in general terms 24 and more specifically how it can be avoided. 23 The current paper furthers this line of enquiry via a secondary analysis looking at how participants relate community-based actions and day-to-day activities to their mental health.…”

Stories of Madness: Exploring Resistance, Conformity, Resiliency, Agency, and Disengagement in Mental Health Narratives

“…Some might approach varying madnesses in a more positive light, seeing its expression as having the potential to teach us something about the world (Deleuze and Guattari, 2009;Farber, 1993Farber, , 2013Laing, 1967). Despite the drawbacks of psychiatrization and hospital life, which can invoke fear, trauma, loss, and a lack of autonomy, some patients frame the clinic space and atmosphere as a place of refuge to regroup and build resources during crisis (Ådnanes et al, 2018;Lidz, 2011;Rose, 2005).…”