Università degli studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia

Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia
Corso di laurea in infermieristica - Sede di Modena

Abstract

Since the first half of the ‘900, in order to control psychic decompensations, empirical drug preparations were administered, therefore the discovery of phsycopharmacology changed the Psychiatric therapy forever. Moreover, it was revolutionary for the role of nurses as it concerns taking charge of patients with psychiatric disorders, by changing from guardian to planner and contributor of the caring process, guaranteeing an effective therapy administration, working with other health workers. To ensure a safe administration, nurses are responsible for the complex of its actions. However, an important role is held by the patient and his compliance to the therapeutic regimen, which is a complex phenomenon often influenced by factors related to the person, to the treatment and to the disease. It can be assumed that the causes of the patients’ reluctance to take drugs can be collateral effects, but also the attitude towards the drugs and the network support. To promote adherence to therapy, it is important to develop a cooperation between the patient and the nurse, who has to: find shared strategies; have the skill to empathize with the patient’s worries; focus on the patient’s strenghts; know how to listen to his point of view; provide informations. Even after the discharge, in which the patient has to relate with his family and the society, nurse will be the interlocutor to refer to and exchaning informations. It is necessary that the team take charge of the needs of the family, who can encourage the patient’s acceptance of the illness. The purpose of this thesis is to underline that a wide knowledge of psychopharmacology of health care workers can help to promote the therapeutic adherence, which represents an indispensable factor to improve the care planning of mental illness.