Recovery journey of schizophrenic patients in Chinese culture:A Qualitative Study of Experiences

Abstract

Abstract Background: Psychiatric recovery is an integration of clinical and psychosocial frameworks. Previous concepts of recovery have been derived from a Western individualistic cultural context. In contrast, Chinese culture is dominated by collectivism under Confucianism. Therefore the recovery journey of Chinese people with schizophrenia may differ from that of the West. This study examines the experiences of Chinese schizophrenics on their recovery journey to understand the impact of Chinese culture on recovery. Methods: The researcher selected 11 schizophrenic patients for an in-depth interview. And the researcher used an interpretative phenomenological research method to analyze the data. Results: Three themes were identified in this study: traumatic experiences, rooted in family, and recovery impetus, comprising nine sub-themes. "Responsibility to the family" and "relying on oneself" are the main drivers of recovery for patients with a Chinese cultural background. Some patients believe that taking care of themselves is an important way to ease the burden on their families and treat them well. So there is a link between 'responsibility to family' and 'reliance on oneself. Conclusions: Chinese patients with schizophrenia experience significant traumatic experiences and profoundly interact with their families. Both patient autonomy and kinship contribute to the recovery journey, suggesting that the influence of both patient autonomy and kinship should be considered in services that promote recovery. Developing a Chinese cultural context for recovery is an essential issue for Chinese psychiatric rehabilitation services.