Therapeutic itineraries of users that dropped treatment in Psychosocial Care Centers

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to analyze the therapeutic itineraries of users who abandoned treatment in Psychosocial Care Centers (Caps) type III, to identify the factors that led to abandonment and to analyze the perceptions of users about the services and treatments proposed. Qualitative methodology was used through the design of therapeutic itineraries based on the content of interviews with eight users. The results showed that, regarding Primary Care, although the appointments, medications and treatment adherence are maintained, they are based only on medical-centered procedures. Lack of recognition of the importance of psychological distress by professionals, neglect of problems with drug side effects, and fragmentation between mental and physical health was reported. Regarding Caps, a lot of discontinuity was mentioned. The reasons related to the abandonment of care are failures in the Singular Therapeutic Project, lack of bond/responsibility, negligence with side effects of medications, negative perceptions of the Caps environment, listening lack and failures at the time of referral. We concluded that the abandonment of care occurred mainly after the stabilization of the acute crisis and the referral to Primary Care, increased by problems in the Singular Therapeutic Project and failures in the articulation of the care network.

KEYWORDS:
Mental health assistance; Community mental health services; Health services research; Patient dropouts