Talking About Acute Inpatient Mental Health Care: A Qualitative Analysis of Service Users', Carers' and Professionals' Accounts

It was the aim of this study to develop a comprehensive understanding of acute
inpatient mental health care. More specifically, the research questions focused
on exploring how participants spoke about their experience of inpatient care and
what opportunities there were to discuss and plan for discharge. It was also the
aim of this study to examine multiple-perspectives (i.e. service users' carers' and
professionals' perspectives) and consult service users with at least one previous
experience of admission.
Thematic analysis of the data was conducted, informed by ideas from discursive
psychology. The recruitment of participants was partly determined by service
users. Three service users were recruited, each of whom nominated a carer and
professional to participate. A total of nine participants were recruited (three
service users, three carers and three professionals). Each participant was
interviewed separately, about their experiences of the acute inpatient mental
health system. The interviews took place shortly after the discharge date.
The results of this research, question the extent to which acute inpatient mental
health services can deliver an adequate standard of care. In particular, this study
highlighted how the hospital environment added to rather than alleviated service
users' lack of clarity and their confusion following admission. The results also
suggested that limited opportunities existed for service users to comfortably
discuss their lack of understanding and ask questions. This study questioned to what extent the inpatient setting facilitated a genuine consultation of multiple
perspectives, highlighting how decisions were often made about, but not with
service users and significant others. Finally, the results of the analysis indicated
that hospital was experienced as a chaotic, potentially violent, prison like
environment in which therapeutic activities were limited and did not necessarily
reflect service users' personal interests. The implications for research and
practice were discussed.

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