title: Island living: the experience of loneliness in a psychiatric hospital.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to examine perceptions of loneliness among psychiatric patients. The sample included 12 adults receiving treatment in a psychiatric facility. Data consisted of audiotaped semistructured interviews. Ten empirical categories resulted. Further analysis of empirical data provided a description of psychiatric patient's experiences of loneliness. The metaphor of living on an island illustrated the core category. Subcategories included escape attempts and surviving tidal waves.
authors.affiliation: Nursing Research Committee, Milwaukee County Mental Health Complex, WI.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Coenen
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Heim
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients / Q000523:psychology*; D008132:Loneliness; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D011788:Quality of Life; D013561:Symbolism