Papers by Jennifer Strand
International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-Being, 2015
Dropout is a common problem in various exercise interventions. The individual&amp... more Dropout is a common problem in various exercise interventions. The individual's experience is believed to greatly impact dropout, yet little is known about the individual experiences of taking part in exercise interventions. The aim of this study was to examine individuals' experiences following a self-determination theory-based exercise intervention in order to gain understanding of how standardized interventions can be adjusted to fit individuals' specific needs, capacities, and circumstances. A qualitative approach with semi-structured interviews was conducted with eight informants (three male and five female) aged between 26 and 47 years, whom all had participated in a 6-month exercise intervention with individual coaching based on self-determination theory and motivational interviewing. The interviews were analyzed thematically with an inductive approach. Aspects that influenced the informants' motivation and participation in the exercise intervention were linked to three themes: the frames of the intervention, measurable changes, and the individual's context. The themes present information about the process and to what extent the informants felt that the intervention was adapted to fit their lives and needs. This study emphasizes the importance of individualizing exercise interventions to support individuals' diverse capacities and psychological needs.
Health & social care in the community, 2015
As a consequence of the deinstitutionalisation of mental health services, family members have bec... more As a consequence of the deinstitutionalisation of mental health services, family members have become an important part of the care system. However, little is known about mental health professionals' perceptions of these family members. The aim of this study was to explore professionals' views of one particular group, the parents of patients with psychotic disorders. Because sensitive issues such as professionals' perceptions of parents can be difficult to capture via interviews or self-report instruments, we conducted participant observation of 20 multi-professional team meetings. The observations were carried out during 2011 at a psychiatric care unit specialised in working with patients with psychosis. Approximately 10 inpatients and outpatients were discussed in each team meeting. All conversations about the patients' parents were documented with field notes that were later analysed using inductive thematic analysis. Through the analysis, a complex and multi-facet...
Journal of Trauma & Dissociation, 2012
International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 2014
Background: In a health-care service with the emphasis on improvement related to functioning and ... more Background: In a health-care service with the emphasis on improvement related to functioning and well-being, the communication process between patient and professionals is essential. There is a lack of research on this matter. Aim: The aim was to investigate, in a group of severely mentally ill persons, whether the use of a simple communication tool could influence the sense of empowerment, satisfaction with care, therapeutic alliance and unmet needs. Method: The study had a cluster randomized design. The intervention was a communication tool (2-COM) applied in two teams during one year. In a comparison group of two other teams, the treatment was as usual. At baseline, after six months, and after one year, assessments were made. Results: After one year the 2-COM groups seemed to have a larger reduction in unmet needs compared to the treatment-as-usual group. However, there were large problems with attrition in the study, and it was not possible to draw relevant conclusions. Conclusions: The methodological problems were substantial, and the study may be considered as a pilot study. In a main study the researchers ought to take control over the selection of patients on the basis of the experiences from this study.
Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy, 2013
Background: Previous research indicates that the content of psychotic symptoms is of significant ... more Background: Previous research indicates that the content of psychotic symptoms is of significant importance for the individual who experiences them. However, there are limitations concerning the use of self-report instruments for capturing experiences that are of highly personal nature. The aim of this study was to provide a deeper understanding of how individuals with psychosis make sense of the content of their psychotic symptoms. Method: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 individuals, some of whom were experiencing active symptoms and some of whom had experienced symptoms within the last 12 months. The interviews explored the individuals' understanding of psychotic symptoms in terms of the content and the possible meaning of the content. All participants were patients at a unit specializing in psychosis. The study applied interpretive phenomenological analyses to highlight the subjective understanding of the content of psychotic symptoms. Results: Interpersonal experiences were a consistent theme in participants' understanding of the content of their psychotic symptoms. Grandiose content was understood as being related to lack of relationships and helplessness, whereas harassing content was related to experiences of being abused. Commanding content was linked to emotional consequences of intrusive relationships and to distressing life events. Supportive content was viewed as a substitute for real-life persons. Conclusions: These results support previous findings suggesting that the content of psychotic symptoms is related to interpersonal experiences. The study highlights the importance of validating the patient's own knowledge and interpretations of symptoms.
Nordic journal of psychiatry, 2015
The capacity to manage affects is rooted in early interactions with caregivers, which in adulthoo... more The capacity to manage affects is rooted in early interactions with caregivers, which in adulthood are internalized as different attachment styles. Few studies have explored associations between all four attachment styles and symptoms. Our aim was to investigate the relations between the four attachment styles and psychological distress in a group of people with psychosis. In a cross-sectional study, associations between self-reported attachment style and symptoms in a psychosis group were explored. Attachment styles were measured with the Relationship Questionnaire (RQ) and symptoms were assessed with the revised version of the Symptom Checklist (SCL-90R) RESULTS: The analyses showed a significant positive association between preoccupied attachment and the severity of symptoms. Furthermore, the analyses indicated significant positive associations between preoccupied attachment and the subscales measuring depression, anxiety, interpersonal sensitivity, paranoia and psychoticism. We ...
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Papers by Jennifer Strand