[Subjective patient experience of psychiatric admissions]

Abstract

Objective: Assessment of patients' subjective experiences of an admission to a psychiatric hospital.

Methods: Subjective experiences of psychiatric admissions were recorded with a semi-structured interview in 72 fairly representative in-patients. Patients' satisfaction with treatment was recorded with the ZUF-8 questionnaire. Additionally, 52 in-patients on nine wards were interviewed in focus groups.

Results: From the patients' point of view, the most important aspects of the admission were staff, ward atmosphere and fellow patients. Violence and coercion played only a minor role. In the face-to-face interviews, assessments were generally positive, while in focus groups negative experiences and criticism were also reported.

Conclusions: Future surveys should be conducted anonymously to minimize social desirability bias. Focus groups yield an important extension of individual interviews.