Social representations of family members on the care provided by the emergency psychiatric sector: a descriptive study

Abstract

Aim: To analyze the social representations of family members of patients who suffer from mental and behavioral problems regarding the care of emergency psychiatric disorders. Method: This is an exploratory and descriptive study, in which a qualitative approach based on Social Representations Theory (SRT) was used in addition to the use of multi-methods for data collection (semi-structured interviews and the free association of words technique). The software Analyse Lexicale par Contexte d’un Ensemble de Segments de Texte (ALCESTE) and thematic content analysis were used. The study scenario includes two mental health services in the municipality of Mossoró/RN involving the primary caregivers of the mental health patient and who have witnessed at least one situation characterized as being a crisis or involving a psychiatric emergency.