Experiences Contributing to Personal Agency During Acute Psychiatric Hospitalization: A Qualitative Descriptive Study...

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Psychology
• Sociology

Background:

• Personal agency, the recovery of motivation and control, is crucial for understanding patient experiences in acute psychiatric care.
• Acute psychiatric settings often present challenges to maintaining personal agency.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore experiences contributing to personal agency in individuals during early acute psychiatric hospitalization.
• To co-produce research with individuals possessing lived experience.

Main Methods:

• Descriptive qualitative analysis of four focus groups.
• 12 participants with recent acute psychiatric hospitalization experience were interviewed.
• Participants had diagnoses including schizophrenia, mood disorders, and developmental disorders.

Main Results:

• Five key experiences foster personal agency: safety, positive self-perception, having thoughts considered, maintaining self-identity in the community, and acting on abilities.
• These elements are vital for recovery in acute psychiatric environments.
• Co-production with lived experience researchers ensured patient-centered insights.

Conclusions:

• Fostering safety, self-perception, expression, community connection, and ability-based action supports personal agency in acute psychiatric care.
• These findings can inform clinical practice to enhance patient recovery and motivation.
• Understanding these experiential elements is key to improving acute psychiatric settings.