ABSTRACT
Objective:
to understand how mental disorder patients experience the use of psychotropic medications.
Method:
a qualitative, exploratory and descriptive research, which used Edgar Morin’s complex thinking as theoretical reference. The data were collected through a semi-structured interview applied to 26 mental disorder patients with psychotropic medical prescription and who were subjected to theme category-based analysis.
Results:
a central category emerged “The complex experience of mental disorder patients in the use of psychotropic medication”. This category shows the interrelations between thematic categories, such as: experiencing the effects of psychotropic medications; using psychotropic medication irregularly; identifying the advantages and difficulties of using psychotropic medication; and developing strategies to maintain the regular use of psychotropic medication.
Conclusions:
the experiences of mental disorder patients use of psychotropic medications is a dynamic and complex process that encompasses the multidimensionality involving human beings and their treatment.
DESCRIPTORS:
Psychotropic medication; Mental health; Psychiatric nursing; Mental disorders; Community mental health centers
