Perceptions of Antipsychotic Treatment Encounters among Individuals Affected by Schizophrenia

Introduction: Managing schizophrenia spectrum disorders often entails a lifelong commitment to antipsychotic medication. However, the prevalence of treatment-related side effects poses a significant threat to the physical well-being and functionality of users, leading to hesitancy in initiating antipsychotic treatment or a desire to taper or discontinue the medication. Despite this, mental health professionals frequently perceive individuals with mental illness as incapable of making rational decisions regarding their medical treatment.

Methods: the study aims to explore instances of epistemic injustice within these encounters. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 11 individuals affected by schizophrenia spectrum disorders. The data will be analyzed using abductive analysis, and the results will be interpreted in the context of epistemic injustice within mental healthcare treatment.

Results: The presentation will showcase the study's findings and encourage a discussion on these results in relation to shared decision-making.

Discussion: This presentation discusses an ongoing study that seeks to investigate the experiences of encounters related to antipsychotic treatment in mental health care, as perceived by individuals affected by schizophrenia.