Learning to Dance in the Rain: Stories of Young People taking Antipsychotic Medication

Early intervention to promptly identify and treat psychosis limits the duration of untreated psychosis and improves patient outcome. Despite evidence to support efficacy, approximately 50% of young people do not take antipsychotic medication as prescribed. This research was designed to explore factors which may promote and deter teenage adherence with antipsychotic medication. Initially intended as a quantitative study, the research pragmatically shifted to a qualitative design following recruitment difficulties. Narrative inquiry and auto-photography were used to obtain stories from ten young people prescribed antipsychotic medication as a teenager. Participants collected images illustrative of their medication journey, discussing these images and their medication stories at interview. Analysis of data uncovered a metastory of a journey from darkness to brightness. In darkness, symptoms predominated bringing fear, isolation and unpredictability. As medication took effect, stories became brighter evidencing hope, happiness and productivity. Four stories linked to medication adherence emerged; namely endurance, motivation, control and resentment. Underpinning sub-stories included the endurance of resisting symptoms, taking medication long term and dealing with medication side effects. Sub-stories of motivations related to being well, being a ‘normal’ teenager and having a brighter future. Control was evident in the positive choices

Name dc:type.qualificationname

phd

Level dc:type.qualificationlevel

doctoral

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

University of Central Lancashire

Year dc:date.issued

2016

Author dc:creator

• Ramdour, Sonia Jane

• B990 - Subjects allied to medicine not elsewhere classified

Statement dc:rights

• Access Restricted for reasons of confidentiality: "I am unsure based on the information contained within the Open Access Archive opt-out section whether it would be appropriate or not to upload this to CLoK as the participants have not given specific consent for the photographs to be available via an electronic version of the thesis. The photography permission form covered the following: Stored electronically for 5 years Thesis publication Presentations/Exhibition Academic publications Please can you advise as I think this may be subject to freedon of information exemptions"

Language dc:language

en