Phenomenology of the COVID-19 Pandemic Experience in Patients Suffering from Chronic Schizophrenia—A Qualitative Analysis

Katarzyna Kotlarska, Benita Wielgus and Łukasz Cichocki
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Katarzyna Kotlarska: Institute of Psychology, Pedagogical University of Cracow, ul. Podchorążych 2, 30-084 Kraków, Poland
Benita Wielgus: The Education of Research and Development Center, Babinski Clinical Hospital, ul. Babińskiego 29, 30-393 Kraków, Poland
Łukasz Cichocki: The Education of Research and Development Center, Babinski Clinical Hospital, ul. Babińskiego 29, 30-393 Kraków, Poland

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 19, issue 1, 1-12

Abstract: Many studies have shown that the COVID-19 pandemic can have a great influence on mental health. However, there is still not enough research to fully understand how people suffering from schizophrenia experience crisis situations such as a pandemic. This qualitative study aims to explore this subject. Ten outpatients suffering from schizophrenia were interviewed in a semi-structured format using an interview designed by the authors for the purpose of this study. The interviews were transcribed, and a conventional qualitative content analysis was conducted. The general themes identified in the content analysis were organized into four categories: first reactions to information about the pandemic; subjective assessment of the pandemic’s impact on patients’ mental health; patients’ attitudes towards the temporary limitations and lockdowns; psychiatric treatment and psychotherapy during the pandemic. A variety of different experiences were observed, but the general conclusion arising from the study suggests that the majority of the interviewed patients coped quite well with the pandemic and that the observed reactions were similar to the reactions of other groups described in the literature. The study also confirmed the importance of the continuity of psychiatric care for patients with schizophrenia.

Keywords: schizophrenia; COVID-19; pandemic; experience; isolation; qualitative analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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