Decision-Making in Treatment of Schizophrenia: Caregivers’ Perspective

The nature of schizophrenia highlights the importance of caregivers in treatment-seeking process and a need to analyse barriers leading to delay in reaching appropriate treatment centres. From the Indian context, a quantitative enquiry by scholars from the perspective of patients has been delved into, a need still persists to analyse the journey of caregivers from initial detection of change till the present experience. Using a qualitative research method with thematic analysis, impediments experienced at each step along with current perception of mental health care was explored. Results show delay irrespective of whether caregivers approach shaman first or a mental health professional. Previous knowledge didn't guarantee treatment-seeking. Experienced persons play an important role in the pathway. Contrary to previous research, resources were not seen as a barrier in the present study. The major conclusions drawn, point towards filling the gap between knowledge and action, importance of mental health literacy, and compulsory psycho-education regarding the disorder by the mental health professional.