Medication-free mental health treatment: a focus group study of milieu therapeutic settings
Peer reviewed, Journal article
Published version
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Date
2023Metadata
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Original version
10.1186/s12888-023-05193-xAbstract
Background
Medication-free treatment within mental health care aims to offer therapeutic support as an alternative
to psychotropic medication. Introducing milieu therapy for severely mentally ill persons in a medication-free unit requires significant changes to the traditional medication-based psychiatric setting. The present study examines how milieu therapists experience working with medication-free treatment for people with severe mental health challenges. The research question was “What may be required to succeed with medication-free treatment in milieu therapeutic settings?”
Methods
A qualitative study with four focus groups were conducted with 23 milieu therapists from three inpatient
units in two mental health institutions. Thematic analysis was performed.
Results
One main theme was identified: medication-free treatment involves therapists and patients working
together on holistic and personal health promotion. This common thread links the four themes: helping patients to make changes in their life; having time to focus on the individual patient; being a professional companion; and working together as a team with the patient.
Conclusions
A holistic approach is necessary for medication-free treatment to succeed. This requires working
together in multidisciplinary teams with a focus on the individual patient. Milieu therapists must engage and take more responsibility in the patient’s process of health promotion. A change from a medical to a humanistic paradigm within mental health care is needed.
Keywords
Focus group interviews, Holistic approach, Medication-free treatment, Milieu therapy, Qualitative study