Gaining Autonomy & Medication Management (GAM): new perspectives on well-being, quality of life and psychiatric medication

Ciência & Saúde Coletiva

Lourdes Rodriguez Del Barrio¹  Céline Cyr¹  Lisa Benisty¹  Pierrette Richard¹ 

[1] ,Université de Montréal School of Social Work ,Canada

关键词: GAM;    Mental health;    Psychiatric medication;    Qualitative research;    Community-based practices;    Empowerment;    Saúde mental;    Medicação psiquiátrica;    Pesquisa qualitativa;    Práticas comunitárias;    Empowerment;   

DOI  :  10.1590/S1413-81232013001000012

来源: SciELO

【 摘 要 】

Autonomous Medication Management (GAM) is an innovative approach developed in partnership with medication users. It takes their subjective experience into account and strives to place the individual at the center of pharmacological treatment in psychiatry with a view to improving well-being and quality of life. It creates spaces of open dialogue on the issue of medication amongst users, physicians and their family and friends. This article is derived from a research study and presents the principles, practices and main impacts of GAM on how people relate to their medications and the physicians who prescribe them. The major positive effects were the users' clearer understanding of their experience of taking psychiatric medication and their rights, the reduction or elimination of sudden and unsupervised treatment interruptions and the users' sense of having more control over their treatment. It includes inner experience and life, an improved relationship with professionals and space for negotiation with the physician and, lastly, changes to prescriptions that significantly improved well-being and recovery. The distinguishing features of GAM are described and compared with other approaches, giving a voice to people who take medication.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
 All the contents of this journal, except where otherwise noted, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License