Illness perception in Turkish schizophrenia patients: a qualitative explorative study

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry and Mental Health
• Qualitative Research Methods
• Patient-Centered Care

Background:

• Schizophrenia is a severe, complex mental illness with significant challenges in accessing optimal evidence-based treatment.
• Treatment adherence for schizophrenia remains suboptimal, affecting patient outcomes.
• Understanding the lived experience of schizophrenia is crucial for improving therapeutic approaches.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the illness experience of schizophrenia from the perspective of patients in remission.
• To gain in-depth insights into the subjective realities of living with schizophrenia.

Main Methods:

• Conducted in-depth interviews with nine Turkish patients diagnosed with schizophrenia.
• Focused on patients who were in remission to capture their experiences.
• Qualitative analysis to identify emergent themes.

Main Results:

• Five key themes emerged: schizophrenia as a complicated illness, a mystery, a lost life, a dynamic journey towards recovery, and a developmental process of recovery.
• Patients perceive recovery as an ongoing, multifaceted process.
• The subjective experience highlights the profound impact of schizophrenia on life.

Conclusions:

• Patient perspectives are vital for a comprehensive understanding of schizophrenia.
• Findings underscore the need to integrate patient experiences into healthcare provision for schizophrenia.
• This study provides a foundation for future research focused on patient-centered schizophrenia care.