The Construction of Self-Identity in the Chronically Mentally Ill: A Focus on Autobiographic Narratives of Mentally Ill Patients in South Korea

A systematic policy for treatment and management of chronic psychiatric patients in South Korea was begun with the passage of the Mental Health Act in 1995. The mentally ill patients who were previously separated from the society now have opportunities to live in local communities under medication with the help of rehabilitation facilities. This study aims to understand how mentally ill patients deal with their new medical environment. An autobiographic narrative analysis is methodically applied in order to link the social and the individual levels. Autobiographic narratives of illness show how the patient’s self-identity is formed and further developed according to the chronic conditions of his illness and the continual learning from experiences. In regard to the construction of selfidentity, two aspects should be taken into consideration: First, medication is absolutely necessary before patients can leave the hospital and participate in rehabilitation programs. Secondly, social integration is usually evaluated by the return of the patient into a normal biographical stage. It turns out that medication deprives the patients of control over their emotions, their bodies. Furthermore, their social environments – including family, friends and the labor market – work against them. Under these circumstances, mentally ill patients are liable to adhere to their own interpretation of mental illness, and what they experience is far different from the expectations of experts in the field. The new mental health environment also contributes to the formation of patient communities. As a result, chronic psychiatric patients are able to build their own subculture and to see themselves through their own eyes. Further studies are needed to explore whether and to what extent the ongoing improvement of social conditions for mentally ill patients has an impact on autobiographic narratives and self-identity construction.

Animal-assisted therapy on happiness and life quality of chronic psychiatric patients living in psychiatric residential care homes: a randomized controlled study

Background Psychiatric patients who live in psychiatric residential care homes may often feel a loss of autonomy, decision making, and participation in social activities. They usually have few or no visitors and also do not have any purpose for living. Animals may increase the happiness and quality of life of psychiatric patients. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT) on happiness and quality of life of chronic psychiatric patients living in psychiatric residential care homes in Tehran, Iran. Methods This randomized controlled trial was conducted with 70 males with a chronic psychiatric disorder who were living in psychiatric residential care homes in Tehran, Iran, in 2016. The patients were randomly selected and divided into animal therapy intervention group and control group. Patients in the intervention group received animal-therapy with a bird for eight weeks. Patients in the control group received no intervention. The Oxford Happiness Inventory evaluated all patients pre and post-intervention. To evaluate life quality, the Wisconsin Quality of Life Index was used. Data were statically analyzed using SPSS Ver.19.0. ANCOVA with pretest statistical control. The significance level was set as p < 0.05. Results The mean age in both control and intervention groups were 47.12 and 45.82 years, and the mean age of illness onset for both control and intervention groups was 18.94 and 16.83 years, respectively. The result of this study showed that happiness in the intervention group had significantly increased (p < 0.001). The results also showed that the quality of life in four sub-domains increased significantly. Conclusion To bring happiness to chronic psychiatric patients living in psychiatric residential care homes is essential and may result in returning them to society and healthy life. The results of this study showed that AAT was helpful for chronic psychiatric patients living in psychiatric residential care homes and not only made them happy but also increased their quality of life. Trial registration This was registered in Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT) (clinical trial code: IRCT20101013004922N4. Registered 2018-08-19. Retrospectively registered, https://www.irct.ir/trial/32390

The Effects of Animal-Assisted Therapy on Happiness of Chronic Psychiatric Patients in a Nursing Home in Tehran: A Randomized Controlled Study

BackgroundPsychiatric patients who live in nursing homes may often feel a loss of autonomy, decision-making, and participation in social activities. They usually had little or no visitors and also they do not have any purpose for living. Pets may decrease this problem and improve their happiness.ObjectivesThe aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of animal-assisted therapy (AAT) on happiness of chronic psychiatric patients in nursing home.MethodThe study design was a randomized controlled trial (RCT) with pre and post-test. Seventy males with chronic mental health disorder who were patients of the nursing homes were randomly divided into a pet therapy intervention group and control group. Patients in the experimental group received pet-therapy with bird as 6 weeks therapy comprising 6 sessions per week. All patients were evaluated by the Oxford happiness questionnaire before and after 6 weeks.ResultsAnalysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was conducted and pretest was considered as a covariate variable. The result demonstrated that the patients in the experimental group had significantly increased (P < 0.001) happiness in posttest scores.ConclusionIt is important to consider ways of enhancing happiness in psychiatric patients who live in the nursing homes. Also, it is appearing that AAT can be helpful for them.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.