Opplevelse av behov for hjelp hos psykiatriske pasienter som bor i egen bolig

During the last years there has been a wide reduction in institution places in psychiatric health care. The purpose of this study was to present how psychiatric patients experience their situation at home, and in what situations they need help from the psychiatric community nurses. Data were gathered from eleven qualitative interviews with eight patients. A hermeneutical approach and method was used in the study. The main focus was on the quality of life of the patients. The patients expressed a need of having an informal contact with the nurses and that the nurses focused on motivation and practical action. Three main factors showed out to be the causes related to the need of help. The first factor was the experience of psychological pain. The second factor was the experience of loneliness, and the third factor was related to the tendency of passivity. The patients need for help and guidance was therefore often related to emotional support, social contact and activities.