Citation

Gerle E, Fischer A, Lundh LG. J. Patient Exp. 2019; 6(4): 265-270.

Affiliation

Department of Psychology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/2374373518800811

PMID

31853481

PMCID

PMC6908982

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Various forms of coercion are used in the psychiatric care of patients with self-injurious behaviors, but there is little research on how these are perceived by the patients. The aim of this study was to investigate how 6 patients, who had received care for self-injurious behavior, perceived coercion and how they think coercion could be avoided.

METHODS: This study employed a qualitative design with 6 semistructured interviews and interpretative phenomenological analysis.

RESULTS: Three main themes were identified: keep voluntary care voluntary, apportioning control and responsibility, and dialogue and participation. Constant supervision was described as the most destructive form of coercion. To enable self-responsibility, a reduction of control and supervision was advocated. Calls were made for a treatment based on the assumption that there is a desire, on behalf of the patients, to get better.

CONCLUSIONS: The use of coercion in the psychiatric care of patients with self-injurious behavior can be reduced by increasing predictability, by listening to the patient with genuine interest, and by involving the patient in decisions regarding their treatment.

© The Author(s) 2018.

Language: en

Keywords

patient perspective; perceived coercion; self-injury