title: 'In sight, out of mind': the experiences of the compliantly engaged community psychiatric out-patient.
abstract: Research on engagement within community-based psychiatric services in the UK has mainly focussed on factors related to those 'at risk' of non-attendance or non-compliance, with the tacit assumption that those in regular attendance are largely content and hence not a priority. The present study systematically explored the experiences and views of 25 people with severe and enduring mental illness who had regularly attended out-patient settings for more than 5 years. Regular attendance at consultations was not synonymous with satisfaction-in fact it masked varying levels of unmet needs and 'de-humanisation'. In order to establish and maintain non-coercive community services that prioritise 'recovery' above illness and 'risk' containment, it is essential that the experiences of people in established and apparently 'less troublesome' therapeutic relationships are also taken into account and integrated into policy and practice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Portsmouth, King Henry Building, King Henry I Street, Portsmouth, Hampshire, UK. mike.chase@port.ac.uk
authors.forename: Mike
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chase
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Malden
authors.forename: Lynn
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lansbury
authors.forename: Justin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hansen
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ambrose
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: Clare
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Costall
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010045:Outpatients / Q000523:psychology; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012944:Social Support; D006113:United Kingdom