Tina Vestphal

Tina Kirstine Vestphal, ph.d.-student, Sr. Lecturer, MScN, RN. Forensic Mental Health Research Unit Middelfart (RFM), Department of Regional Health Research, Faculty of Health Science, University of Southern Denmark & Psychiatric dept. Middelfart, Mental Health Services in the Region of Southern Denmark. 

Relatives of mentally ill patients in forensic and general psychiatry
-Those who fight alongside

Head Supervisor: Frederik Alkier Gildberg: Professor, PhD., MScN, RN, Forensic Mental Health Research Unit Middelfart (RFM), Department of Regional Health Research, Faculty of Health Science, University of Southern Denmark & Psychiatric dept. Middelfart, Mental Health Services in the Region of Southern Denmark. 

Project Supervisor: Ellen Boldrup Tingleff, PhD., MScN, RN, Sr. Lecturer at UCL University College, Nursing Education, Vejle. Forensic Mental Health Research Unit Middelfart (RFM), Department of Regional Health Research, Faculty of Health Science, University of Southern Denmark & Psychiatric dept. Middelfart, Mental Health Services in the Region of Southern Denmark. 

Co-Supervisor: Rikke Jþrgensen, PhD, seniorresearcher and coordinator of Research within Nursing, Unit for Psychiatric Research, Aalborg University hospital – Psychiatry

Co-Supervisor: Sara Rowaert, Post-doc, PhD., Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium

Danish Abstract

Der er sparsom viden om oplevelsen af at vĂŠre pĂ„rĂžrende i psykiatrien, sĂŠrligt i retspsykiatrien, samt hvilken rolle, de pĂ„rĂžrende spiller i plejen og behandlingen af patienten. Desuden mangler der viden om, hvordan sundhedspersonalet inddrager de pĂ„rĂžrende i plejen og behandlingen af patienten. Forskning viser, at pĂ„rĂžrende har en afgĂžrende indflydelse pĂ„ patientens proces med at komme sig og sandsynligvis derfor er betydningsfulde samarbejdspartnere for medarbejdere i kommuner og regioner. Desuden viser forskning, at patienter har en reduceret risiko for tilbagefald pĂ„ 45 pct., samt en reduceret risiko for genindlĂŠggelse pĂ„ 22 pct., nĂ„r de pĂ„rĂžrende involveres i behandlingen af den syge. Samtidig oplever 66% af de pĂ„rĂžrende sig ikke inddraget i vĂŠsentlige beslutninger om behandlingen af den syge, og 72% oplever ikke, at de fĂ„r tilstrĂŠkkelig information om generelle forhold vedrĂžrende sygdom og behandling af deres syge familiemedlem. SĂŠrligt pĂ„rĂžrende i retspsykiatrien, som er den del af psykiatrien, hvor patienter og dermed pĂ„rĂžrende er stigende, oplever en Ăžget byrde forĂ„rsaget af; stress, dobbelt stigmatisering, patientens strafbare handlinger og den mĂ„de, hvorpĂ„ sundhedspersonalet involverer de pĂ„rĂžrende i plejen og behandlingen. Der er derfor et politisk mĂ„l om at inddrage pĂ„rĂžrende i behandlingen af patienter med psykiske lidelser. Derfor har dette projekt, PĂ„rĂžrende til psykisk syge i rets- samt almenpsykiatrien – Dem der kĂŠmper ved siden af, til formĂ„l at skabe viden om de oplevelser og opfattelser, der er forbundet med at vĂŠre pĂ„rĂžrende samt at udvikle viden og interventioner om stĂžtte til pĂ„rĂžrende og deres involvering i behandlingen af patienten i rets- samt almenpsykiatrien. I projektet fokuseres der pĂ„ karakteristika og eventuelle forskelle mellem rets- samt almenpsykiatrien, som kan vĂŠre medvirkende faktorer til at fokusere interventioner mĂ„lrettet i Region Syddanmark og nationalt. Projektet gennemfĂžres som et litteraturstudie og interviews af pĂ„rĂžrende og sundhedsprofessionelle i rets- samt almenpsykiatrien.

English Abstract

There is a political objective to involve relatives in the treatment of mentally ill patients to improve the chance for faster improvement for the patient. Research shows that in especially forensic psychiatry, relatives experience increased burden caused by; double stigma, patient’s criminal offences and the ways healthcare professionals involve the relatives in the treatment of the patient. There is sparse knowledge about the experiences of relatives in especially forensic psychiatry as well as the role they play in the care and treatment of the patient. Furthermore, there is sparse knowledge on how the healthcare professionals engage the relatives in the treatment of the patient. This project: Relatives of mentally ill patients in forensic and general psychiatry -Those who fight alongside aims to generate knowledge about the experiences associated with being a relative and to develop knowledge about the support and involvement of relatives in the treatment of the patient in forensic and general psychiatry. The project comprises different approaches to generating knowledge: (1) a systematic review, (2) explorative, in depth qualitative interviews with relatives in forensic and general psychiatry, and (3) focus group interviews with healthcare professionals in forensic and general psychiatry. The investigation is epistemologically and methodologically informed by the assumptions of Symbolic Interactionism.