Original Research
Recollected experiences of first hospitalisation for acute psychosis among persons diagnosed with schizophrenia in South Africa
Submitted: 12 September 2012 | Published: 30 August 2013
About the author(s)
Y Zubi, Department of Psychology, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa, South AfricaP Connolly, Department of Psychology, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
Abstract
First-time admission to a psychiatric hospital for acute psychosis has been reported to be extremely traumatic, and this has not been adequately researched in the South African context. This study approached persons diagnosed with schizophrenia and explores their recollected, subjective experiences of their first admission to a South African psychiatric hospital ward for acute psychosis. Semi-structured individual interviews were conducted with seven participants diagnosed with schizophrenia. These were analysed using thematic content analysis. While some participants had positive experiences, the majority reported frightening, distressing, emotionally painful or traumatic experiences during their first hospitalisation. The first hospital admission was also described as having serious long-term implications for the person’s wellbeing, particularly as the diagnosis of schizophrenia made them feel isolated and stigmatised, which further hinders them from recovering from their symptoms and reintegrating into society. This study therefore draws attention to aspects of the process of first admission to psychiatric wards in South Africa, which may benefit from proactive intervention and closer research attention.
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Crossref Citations
1. Predictors of Hospitalization of Individuals With First-Episode Psychosis: Data From a 2-Year Follow-Up of the RAISE-ETP
Delbert G. Robinson, Nina R. Schooler, Robert A. Rosenheck, Haiqun Lin, Kyaw J. Sint, Patricia Marcy, John M. Kane
Psychiatric Services vol: 70 issue: 7 first page: 569 year: 2019
doi: 10.1176/appi.ps.201800511