Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1 Cognitive Science. Institute of Cognitive Science Studies, Tehran, Iran.
2 Ph.D Candidate in Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran.
3 Master in Social Work, Faculty of Social Sciences, Allameh Tabatabai University, Tehran, Iran
Abstract
A thorough understanding of how people with schizophrenia experience critical situations such as an epidemic seems important. Therefore, this research was conducted to analyze the lived experiences of patients with schizophrenia residing in the care center during the COVID-19 pandemic. The method of the present study was a qualitative phenomenological type. Schizophrenia patients who were kept in Sarai Ehsan Rehabilitation Center were selected purposefully. Based on the rule of theoretical saturation, sampling continued until 31 patients. The data collection method was a semi-structured interview. The analysis method was based on Colaizzi's point of view and the data was manually analyzed by the researchers of this study. Data analysis led to the identification of 308 primary codes. Five main themes; The perception and causes of the disease from the perspective of the patients, the views of the patients about quarantine, feelings and emotions during the period of quarantine and illness, the actions of the patients during the period of quarantine and illness and the way of obtaining information about the disease were obtained. These main themes had 32 sub-themes. It seems the Coronavirus pandemic and the resulting quarantine can affect the experiences of patients with schizophrenia. Psychiatrists and clinical psychologists should use the findings of this study in the treatment of schizophrenic patients in the conditions of infectious disease outbreaks.
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