A Qualitative Study on the Social Isolation Experience of Young and Middle-aged Patients with Schizophrenia in Remission

Abstract

Background Schizophrenia often experience severe social discrimination throughout their entire survival period, resulting in self isolation or social isolation. Limited studies have been conducted on social isolation in young and middle-aged patients with schizophrenia in remission. Objective To describe the social isolation experience of young and middle-aged patients with schizophrenia in remission, aiming to provide reference for developing supportive intervention plans to alleviate the social isolation experience of this population. Methods A purposive sampling method was used to select young and middle-aged schizophrenia patients aged 18-59 who had been hospitalized at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University and were willing to continue follow-up after discharge as the research subjects. From May to December 2022, a semi-structured in-depth interview was conducted face-to-face with the respondents, and the themes were summarized and extracted using content analysis method. Results A total of 18 young and middle-aged patients with schizophrenia in remission were included. By analyzing the interview data, a total of 3 themes and 8 sub themes were extracted, including the performance of social isolation in young and middle-aged patients with schizophrenia in remission (containing 2 subthemes of negative emotional experience and withdrawal between expectation and behavior) ; subjective reasons for social isolation in young and middle-aged patients with schizophrenia in remission (containing 2 subthemes of self isolation and self discrimination) , and the objective reasons for social isolation in young and middle-aged patients with schizophrenia in remission (containing 4 subthemes of social discrimination and passive containing, effects of adverse drug reactions, increased burden of living and care caused by mental illness, and the lack of social support) . Conclusion Young and middle-aged patients with schizophrenia in remission may experience social isolation due to impaired physical health, poor psychological status, and insufficient social support. Healthcare professionals should strengthen symptom management and psychological counseling for this population. The government and all sectors of society should actively guide positive perception of mental illness and provide certain social support; family support should be strengthened to help young and middle-aged patients with schizophrenia in remission reintegrate and adapt to society.

Keywords

• schizophrenia|social isolation|relief period|middle-aged and young people|semi-structured interviews|qualitative research