Patients with mental illness and their experiences of the contact with health care professionals in health care

Background: Mental illness is defined differently depending on the context, ranging from symptoms of anxiety and depression to schizophrenia. Mental illness among the population has increased since 1990. A survey done by the Central Bureau of Statistics in Sweden (2006) shows that issues such as anxiety are more common now than before. Twenty-three percent of women aged 16-84 said they had experienced symptoms of anxiety. Thirteen percent of the men aged 16-64 said they had experienced the same. Pre-conceived notions often meet people with mental health issues and there is a stigma surrounding them and their situation. Aim: The aim of the study was to examine how patients with mental illness experience their contact with health care professionals in health care. Method: The study was designed as a literature based study. Eleven articles were analyzed, nine articles were found by a systematic search and two articles were found in an unsystematic search. Results: This study showed two main themes and eight subthemes. The main themes were patients desire to have a good relationship and good interaction with health care professionals. The subthemes were patient confidence in health care professionals, a dedicated staff, patients desire to get person-centered care and to feel involved, to have good continuity in their health care and to have highly available health care professionals around them, to have a good dialogue, be actively listened to, competent health care professionals and being labeled. Conclusion: The conclusion is that patients that lack trust, commitment from health care professionals or continuity had bad experiences with the health care system. Patients needed to have a mutual relationship with the health care staff to have a good experience with the health care system