Abstract

MAGULA, Luzuko; LACHMAN, Anusha  and  ROOMANEY, Rizwana. Lived experiences of adolescents admitted for first-episode psychosis in South Africa. S. Afr. j. psyc. [online]. 2023, vol.29, n.1, pp.1-7. ISSN 2078-6786.  http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/sajpsychiatry.v29i0.1960.

BACKGROUND: First-episode psychosis is common in adolescents and can be distressful to the person experiencing it for the first time. However, there is limited research globally and specifically in Africa about the lived experiences of adolescents admitted into a psychiatric facility for first-episode psychosis AIM: To understand the adolescents' experiences of psychosis and receiving treatment in a psychiatric facility SETTING: Adolescent Inpatient Psychiatric Unit, Tygerberg Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa METHODS: This was a qualitative study that used purposive sampling to recruit 15 adolescents with first-episode psychosis and admitted to the Adolescent Inpatient Psychiatric Unit, Tygerberg Hospital in Cape Town, South Africa. Individual interviews were audio recorded, transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis consisting of both inductive and deductive coding RESULTS: The participants described negative experiences of their first episode psychosis, provided varying explanations for their first episode psychosis and had the insight that cannabis precipitated their episodes. They described both positive and negative interactions with both the other patients and staff. They did not wish to return to the hospital again following their discharge. Participants stated that they wanted to change their lives, return to school and try to prevent a second episode of psychosis CONCLUSION: This study provides insights into the lived experiences of adolescents presenting with first-episode psychosis and calls for future research to delve deeper into factors that support or enable recovery among adolescents with psychosis CONTRIBUTION: The findings of this study call for improving the quality of care in the management of first-episode psychosis in adolescents

Keywords : adolescents; first episode psychosis; inpatient; cannabis; quality of care; South Africa.

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