Abstract
Background: Autonomous Medication Management Group (GGAM) is a group approach for users of psychiatric drugs to share experiences so that they can be protagonists and co-responsible for the decisions relating to their treatment. Objective: To describe the experience of the participants of the GGAM in a psychosocial care center in Brazil. Methodology: The study is qualitative, exploratory, and descriptive, using the structured interview method whose analysis followed the theoretical framework proposed by Minayo. The multidisciplinary team indicated 6 users with a mental disorder, who were prescribed psychotropic drugs for more than 6 months and who participated in the GGAM. Results: Categories emerged such as Context, Experience, and Effects of the experience of participants in the GGAM. The description of their experiences showed that the group is regarded as a space for talking and listening. Conclusion: The participation in the GGAM provided increased knowledge about psychiatric medication, help in dealing with treatment, strengthened relationships, protagonism and autonomy, and contribution to the appropriateness of the singular therapeutic project
Highlights
Autonomous Medication Management (GAM) is the result of the fact that individuals participate little in decisions concerning their health care, limiting their attention, sometimes, only to symptoms and malaise
That is awesome! I came here to learn more, right? And, at least, I’m trying to learn that screwing up isn’t worth it. (P6, January 2017) GAM understands that users have the right to information and with it they can adapt the treatment to their needs and, they use the guide as a tool that provides information about medication and encourages them to reflect upon the treatment and related issues. They will hopefully seek to know about and make decisions according to their needs and wishes relating to medication together with health professionals who assist them in a shared care building process (Onocko Campos et al, 2014)
The questions are related to their quality of life: a) discovering yourself a little; b) observing yourself; c) extending your autonomy; d) talking about the psychiatric medication
Summary
Autonomous Medication Management (GAM) is the result of the fact that individuals participate little in decisions concerning their health care, limiting their attention, sometimes, only to symptoms and malaise. One way to deal with this obstacle would be to increase the individuals’ bargaining power over their treatment, by promoting their dialogue with health professionals about the role that medication plays in their life when considering their treatment goals (Onocko Campos et al, 2008) With this objective, the GAM development initiative in Brazil was based on the multicenter pilot research, which deployed the first groups in 2007, coordinated by several Brazilian universities (Onocko Campos et al, 2008). Through dialogue between users and professionals, it is possible to assess how the use of medication is improving quality of life, reducing the suffering caused by disease symptoms, or, in contrast, increasing it with unwanted effects (Onocko Campos et al, 2014) In this respect, the mental health groups contribute to the rehabilitation of the suffering individuals, to their self-care, and can help them to deal with the experienced issues, such as daily social life, functions, and practices, hindered by a suffering background (Ribeiro, Marin, & Silva, 2014). This study aims to examine the perceptions and effects of individuals’ participation in GAM groups in a Brazilian psychosocial care
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