Considerations Regarding the Quality of Life in Patients at Psychiatric Therapeutic Residence

Abstract

Quality of Life, a widely used term in the literature, spanning multiple meanings, with its appearance specified in healthcare. Aim: To evaluate the quality of life of patients at Therapeutic Residences (RT) due to the process of reduction of beds in psychiatric hospitals and the creation of the Psychosocial Care Center for Health and Hospitals. Method: A total 38 hospitalized individuals from the city of Sao Paulo, of both sexes (78,9% men) aged 32-76 years (M = 30 years, SD = 3.24) were evaluated. The instruments used were a sociodemographic questionnaire and the WHOQOL-BREF to evaluate quality of life. Results: The results pointed out that the Social and Environmental Relationships domains tended to be better perceived by patients who are partnered as compared to those who are not, and this is a possibility in relation to the outpatient group, in which the social relations of RT patients were lower. Also the patients who had RT friends tended to perceive their relational quality of life better than those who did not. Conclusion: In this sense, a social skills training to facilitate these patients making new friends and building new relationships can be an interesting investment in interventions in this group.