Discharge procedures for mentally ill people : the perspective of former psychiatric patients on their social network, quality of life and future life expectations

Abstract: The aim of this study was to find out: (a) the role played by various agencies in the discharge procedure and (b) former psychiatric patients" own perspective on their social network, quality of life and future life expectations.The theoretical framework is based on Mead's symbolic interactionism, Asplund's interpretation of Tönnies' concepts Gemeinschaft and Gesellschaft and Buber's dialogical philosophy.Descriptive, quantitative and qualitative data were gathered on four occasions from May 1984 to December 1986. On three occasions professionals provided information by means of structured questionnaires. Information on the last occasion was provided by former patients through interviews by means of a semistructured questionnaire.Seventy-three patients were discharged during the research period. I was able to follow 50 through all four stages. Fifty-three patients were interviewed.Other agencies were hardly involved at all in the discharge procedure except for the provision of home support.The duration of and stigma attached to mental illness, being without work and gender seemed to have the most influence on the primary network. The same issues (with the exception of gender), together with place of residence, financial difficulties and inability to exert influence over one's own situation influenced the former patients' quality of life and their expectations of the future. Special attention has been given to their occupational situation and to their relations to the professional network. Work opportunities were highly valued but most of the former patients were excluded from the labour market. The LFP groups satisfaction with the home care workers and dissatisfaction with the psychiatric professionals seemed to be due to the former's ability to undertake a ’caring’ relationship.