Significados sobre la experiencia de hospitalización en pacientes adolescentes diagnosticados con anorexia nerviosa

摘要

Introduction: The psychiatric hospitalization of children and adolescents suffering from anorexia nervosa (AN) has important implications in their developmental stage, but its impacthas been scarcely reported, particularly from the subjective individual experience. Objective:To describe the experiencing meanings constructed by anorectic children and adolescents abouttheir hospitalization process. Method: A qualitative descriptive study based on the GroundedTheory was conducted. The sample was intentionally composed by6 patients (5 females and1 male) with and without previous hospitalization background. A semi-structured in-depthinterview was applied. The data were transcribed and analysed by using open coding and triangulation of specialists. Results: Four categories are described: (A) Impressions on mental health professionals and psychiatric hospitalization units before inpatient treatment: reported experiences were negative, influencing future interventions; (B) Impressions and experiences atadmission: anguish, sadness and fear (symptomatology impairment, abuse and weight gain);(C) Therapeutic effects of hospitalization: emphasis in therapeutic alliance and symptomsremission and (D) Critical assessment concerning psychiatric hospitalizations during theadolescence: reinforcement of individual capabilities for the disorder management, benefits ofthe isolation from family issues, development illness awareness. Conclusion: Hospitalization inAN is a positive therapeutic resource in certain cases. Improvement process was facilitated byconstructive dialogues throw the acknowledgement of the patient particular affective needs andthe institutional plasticity in offering appropriate tools for their experiencing, emphasising therelevance of therapeutic alliance.