Experiences of Psychiatric Day-Care Patients during the Introductory Period in Japan

Psychiatric day care plays an important role as transitional support after discharge in Japan. However, interruption rate of the day care treatment is high during the introductory period. The purpose of this study was to clarify the experiences of psychiatric day-care patients during the introductory period and find an approach to care. A qualitative study with thirteen patients at the introductory period was designed to explore participant’s experiences through semi-structured interviews. At first, patients were confused about their attitude because they paid attention to themselves, and consequently closed their involvement with others. However, through therapeutic day care activities, they attempted to adapt themselves and gradually turned their attention toward others and accumulated interpersonal experiences. As interactions with others became more frequent, they became conscious of themselves and others. Finally, while having worries about the future, they looked toward recovery and became aware that they were changing. Experiences of patients during the introductory period were essential to their recovery and gave meaning to their day care usage. Nurses should collaborate with patients to determine whether day care would serve to open a patient’s life to new possibilities.