Abstract
Background: Low-dose antipsychotic medication is an important part of treatment for people experiencing a first episode of psychosis. Little is known about this group of patients’ experiences of taking medication.
Method: A qualitative study of purposively sampled young people experiencing a first episode of psychosis was carried out. A mental health nurse working in the early psychosis team interviewed participants using a structured topic guide. Interviews were subjected to thematic analysis.
Results: Interviews were completed with 20 young people. Thematic analysis generated six themes: (1) the drugs do work, (2) the drugs don’t work (as well as I’d like), (3) side effects, (4) the indirect effects of medication, (5) rage against the machine and (6) the not trivial issues about medication.
Conclusion: Our overarching meta-theme was that young people’s experience of taking antipsychotics was complex; medication was often considered good and bad at the same time. Our observations underpin the importance of helping patients think through the use of antipsychotic medication in supporting their personal recovery.
Method: A qualitative study of purposively sampled young people experiencing a first episode of psychosis was carried out. A mental health nurse working in the early psychosis team interviewed participants using a structured topic guide. Interviews were subjected to thematic analysis.
Results: Interviews were completed with 20 young people. Thematic analysis generated six themes: (1) the drugs do work, (2) the drugs don’t work (as well as I’d like), (3) side effects, (4) the indirect effects of medication, (5) rage against the machine and (6) the not trivial issues about medication.
Conclusion: Our overarching meta-theme was that young people’s experience of taking antipsychotics was complex; medication was often considered good and bad at the same time. Our observations underpin the importance of helping patients think through the use of antipsychotic medication in supporting their personal recovery.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 108-115 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing |
| Volume | 23 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| Early online date | 23 Feb 2016 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Mar 2016 |
Keywords
- psychosis
- medication adherence
- qualitative
- medication acceptability
