Table 3 Identified problems after discharge
Theme | Sub-theme | Codes (n) | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
Problems related to self | Adaptation to daily lives | Cognition is not enough to cope with changes in life (3) | "If one is relatively ungrown inside and still in a fragile mental state, any external change may stimulate a relapse of the disease (Patient 1)." |
The challenge of re-adjusting to life after discharge (5) | "… being here in the hospital is an escape from society, and I worry that when reentering society, I may experience the same feelings and state I had before being hospitalized. I am concerned that I may still have thoughts of ending my life (Patient 3)." | ||
Self-isolation (3) | "When I am taking pills, I just want to sleep during the daytime… no light in my eyes, and I smile reluctantly…can't keep my eyes open…I just don't want to contact others…I don't even feel like checking my phone messages now, and don't want to receive information from outside (patient 6)." | ||
Disease-related frustration | Poor adherence to medication treatment regimen (7) | "I stopped taking the medicine without doctors’ permission, which led to the recurrence in a short period of time (Patient 2)." | |
Failing to adjust the regimen according to the change of the disease status (3) | "My condition got worse, because the medicine don't work anymore (Patient 13)." | ||
Intimate relationship setbacks | Intimate relationship does not go well (3) | "I have a girlfriend and we live away from each other, so it bothers me whether we can make it or not (Patient 12)." | |
Family-related problems | Family conflicts | Direct family conflicts (4) | "The cause of his relapse was that he suspected that I had touched his computer. I argued with him a few times. He finally lost his temper and hit me. My son then kicked him, he could not accept this and stopped talking to us from then on (LHS 1)." |
Alienation from family members (6) | "…a sense of disconnection between me and them, the family has never understood me (Patient 4)." | ||
Excessive interference (4) | "I was going to go to my girlfriend’s place, and my sister said what time I should be back, and I got really annoyed (Patient 12)." | ||
Family bonding | Concern about family members (3) | "My husband is now in the hospital and …has severe diabetes, hyperlipidemia and …kidney problems, and I am afraid of losing him (Patient 9)." | |
Societal and community-related problems | Work-related problems | Stress at work (3) | "This time I was admitted to the hospital because of anxiety at work (Patient 14)." |
Difficulty in returning to work (4) | " I have to communicate with my boss about what he thinks of my history of mental illness and whether it will affect my appointment (Patient 8)." | ||
Difficulty in finding a new job (4) | "I have to look for a new job after I get out (Patient 10)." | ||
Problems in social connection | Difficulty in making friends (5) | "… concern about social connection being affected. The public cognition about mental illness is not enough, so I have taken effective measures, that is, don't let other people know about my disease (Patient 1)." | |
Housing difficulty | Difficulty in finding a place to live (2) | "… face the problem of where to live… (Patient 15)." |