The meaning of pharmacological treatment for schizophrenic patients

OBJECTIVE:

to understand the meaning of medication therapy for schizophrenic patients andformulate a theoretical model about the study phenomenon.

METHOD:

a qualitative approach was employed, using Symbolic Interactionism as thetheoretical and Grounded Theory as the methodological framework. The research wasdeveloped between 2008 and 2010 at three community mental health services in theinterior of the State of São Paulo - Brazil. Thirty-six patients and thirty-sixfamily members were selected through theoretical sampling. The data were mainlycollected through open interviews and observation and simultaneously analyzedthrough open, axial and selective coding.

RESULTS:

the meaning of the pharmacotherapy is centered on the phenomenon "Living with ahelp that bothers", which expresses the patients'' ambivalence towards themedication and determines their decision making. The insight, access, limitationsfor self-administration of the drugs and interactions with family members and thehealth team influenced the patient''s medication-related behavior.

CONCLUSION:

the theory presented in this study provides a comprehensive, contextualized,motivational and dynamic understanding of the relation the patient experiences andindicates potentials and barriers to follow the medication treatment.