本研究は質的記述的研究デザインであり、精神障害者20事例を対象に参加観察法と半構成的面接法によって得た情報から、患者の体験を病態別に分けて分析・解釈を加え、適切な看護援助のあり方について検討したものである。

　その結果、精神障害者は発病直後から社会復帰後までの経過によってその体験が切り替わり、精神障害者のニーズや回復のペースよりも、看護師の働きかけのペースが速く、両者の間にズレが生じていることが明らかになった。看護師がこのズレを少なくして、適切な看護援助につなげるためには、以下の２点が重要であると考えられた。

　精神障害者に関わる時に、(1)看護師に必要な姿勢は、彼らの行動や言葉の内側にある不安を理解することであり、そのために、彼らの生活に関心を向け、共感的に彼らの状況を理解すること。(2)看護師に必要な視点は、彼らが現実的な行動が取れているかという客観的な視点を持つことである。さらに、これらの知見に基づき、患者のニーズや回復のペースに即した看護援助のあり方を具体的に示した。

　This research employs a qualitative descriptive design. The author observed and held semi-structured interviews with 20 mentally disabled persons. Based on this data, the subjects were classified according to clinical condition, analyzed, and appropriate nursing care was considered.

　As a result, it was found that the experiences of these mentally disabled persons differed depending on the course that took place immediately following the onset of their illness through to their rehabilitation into society. Support provided by nurses was more advanced than their needs and pace of recovery, thus creating a gap between the two.
The following two points are considered important in order for nurses to reduce this gap and to provide appropriate nursing care.

　When working with mentally disabled persons:

(1) Nurses need to understand the anxiety that lies beneath their behavior and words. For this reason, nurses should take an interest in their daily lives and be empathetic in understanding their situations;

(2) Nurses need to adopt a subjective perspective according to which they question whether the person's behavior is reasonable.

　Based on these findings, the author demonstrates detailed nursing care that corresponds to patients' needs and pace of recovery.