Qualitative study based upon Alfred Schutz' phenomenological sociology approach aims at identifying the reasons for psychiatric hospitalization in a general hospital by patients' relatives. Fourteen relatives having one of the family members hospitalized in a general hospital psychiatric unit from August through October 2009 were interviewed. The guiding question of phenomenological interview was "What do you expect from the psychiatric admittance in a general hospital?" The phenomenological sociology grounds were used to analyze the statements, from which three defined categories have arisen leading to reasons for: treatment guidelines and continuity; betterment perspectives; projection on normality. This research allows identifying the experiences of such relatives, contributing with mental care professionals so as they could think about their actions and family involvement in a general hospital psychiatric unit.
Mental health; Family; Hospitalization; Psychiatric nursing