12^th Nursing and Healthcare Congress

Biography

Biography: Paul Morrison

Abstract

Antipsychotic medication plays an important role in the treatment of people experiencing severe mental health problems. However, antipsychotic medication often produces troubling side effects. Severe side effects commonly occur, and include Parkinsonism, akathisia, tardive dyskinesia, and substantial metabolic effects. Less severe side effects include sedation, insomnia, sexual dysfunction, dry mouth, constipation, urinary problems, and dizziness. Many consumers experience numerous side effects concurrently, which can be more debilitating than the symptoms of severe mental illness. Understanding consumers lived experience of antipsychotic medication side effects could enable health professionals to work more closely with consumers and informal carers to manage adverse effects. This paper draws on the findings of three studies, in which in-depth interviews were conducted with 18 informal carers, 10 mental health consumers, and 9 case managers. The transcribed interviews were examined by using content analysis. This resulted in a series of rich, diverse themes that detailed key issues such as: nurses’ lack of knowledge about antipsychotic medication side effects; the belief that a lack of consumer insight was responsible for non-adherence; and a lack of systematic approach to the assessment of side effects. In contrast consumers emphasized the “zombie” like state they had to live with; and how they used varied management strategies to limit the impact of the side effects on their lives. The differing perspectives explored will provide a more in-depth understanding of the lives of consumers and carers and highlight significant challenges for nurses and other health professionals in caring for people who take antipsychotic medication.