Understandings of spirituality and its role in illness recovery in persons with schizophrenia and mental-health professionals: a qualitative study

BMC Psychiatry

Research Article

Phyllis Hau Yan Lo¹  Pamela Pui Yu Leung¹  Rainbow Tin Hung Ho²  Cecilia Lai Wan Chan²  Eric Yu Hai Chen³  Caitlin Kar Pui Chan⁴  Ping Ho Wong⁵ 

[1] Centre on Behavioral Health, The University of Hong Kong, 2/F, The Hong Kong Jockey Club Building for Interdisciplinary Research, 5 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong;Centre on Behavioral Health, The University of Hong Kong, 2/F, The Hong Kong Jockey Club Building for Interdisciplinary Research, 5 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong;Department of Social Work and Social Administration, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong;Department of Psychiatry, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong;Department of Social Work and Social Administration, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong;The Centre for Religious and Spirituality Education, Hong Kong Institute of Education, 10 Lo Ping Rd, Tai Po, Hong Kong;

关键词: Grounded theory;    Holistic care;    Mental-health professional;    Qualitative methods;    Persons with schizophrenia;    Spirituality;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12888-016-0796-7

 received in 2015-06-04, accepted in 2016-03-31,  发布年份 2016

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundSpirituality has received increased attention in the psychiatric literature; however, it remains underexplored on a global level. Knowledge about spirituality of persons with schizophrenia is often hampered by positive and negative symptoms, which limit their expression of spiritual needs and shift mental-health professionals’ focus from spiritual care to symptom control. Differences in the ways that the two parties understand spirituality may create different expectations and further hinder the provision of high-quality holistic care. This study investigated the meaning and roles of spirituality from the perspectives of persons with schizophrenia and mental-health professionals.MethodsA qualitative design with semi-structured individual interviews was adopted. The analysis was based on data collected from interviews with 18 clients diagnosed with schizophrenia and 19 mental-health professionals from public hospitals and mental-health community rehabilitation centres in Hong Kong. Data were collected and analysed based on grounded theory principles.ResultsBoth clients and professionals regarded spirituality as an inherent part of a person’s well-being, clients’ rehabilitation, and their lives in general. At the personal level, the clients’ descriptions were more factual, concrete, short term, and affective, whereas the professionals’ descriptions were more abstract, complex, and cognitive. At the communal level, both parties had a similar understanding of spirituality but different interpretations of its role in recovery from mental illness. The clients regarded spirituality as a source of giving and receiving love and care, whereas the professionals regarded it as a means of receiving support and managing symptoms.ConclusionsBuilding a common understanding on the concept of spirituality and the significant role it plays in rehabilitation between clients and mental-health professionals is an essential first step to support clients’ spiritual health. Clients tend to seek for stability, peace, and growth rather than an existential quest; while professionals hold a more pathological perspective, viewing spirituality as a means to relieve symptoms, increase social acceptance, and cope with illness experiences. The differential understanding of the two perspectives provides insight and perhaps a roadmap for developing spiritual assessments and holistic care in the psychiatric context.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© Ho et al. 2016