Experiences of people with a personality disorder or mood disorder regarding carrying out daily activities following discharge from hospital

Abstract

Introduction People with a diagnosed personality or mood disorder can experience challenges to participating in everyday life. Having a relapse of symptoms and an admission to hospital can further disrupt daily life. The aim of this study is to explore the experiences of people with a personality or mood disorder regarding carrying out everyday activities following discharge from hospital. Method Semi-structured interviews were carried out with 16 service users, by a researcher with lived experience of mental health problems and admissions to hospital. Findings Five themes were identified: The cumulative effect of multiple admissions on activities of daily living; the consequences of long admissions on daily living; reduced activities caused by social isolation in the first few months post-discharge; activities that people would like to do better post-discharge from hospital and longer term goals. Conclusion The findings of this study identified challenges people with a personality or mood disorder experience post-discharge from hospital regarding developing a daily routine, managing their home environment and participating in social activities. This indicates the importance of occupational therapy provision following discharge from hospital.