Sammanfattning
Background: Patients in geriatric psychiatry wards often have a complex set of symptoms, where mental, physical and social conditions affect behavior and symptoms. Several professions with different perspectives are also involved in the treatment of the individual patient, which contributes to increased complexity. The Targeted Interdisciplinary Model for Evaluation and Treatment of Neuropsychiatric symptoms (TIME) has in a randomized controlled trial shown reduction in neuropsychiatric symptoms in people with dementia living in nursing homes. TIME is a problem-solving model based on the theoretical framework from person-centered care and cognitive behavior therapy. TIME has also been used in the specialist healthcare service for patients with dementia, and sporadically for patients without dementia.
Aim: We wanted to gain knowledge about how the staff in a geriatric psychiatry ward experience TIME as a model for problem solving in their approach to patients without dementia.
Method: Multiple-stage focus group interviews before start of the project, after 6 months and after 9 months. We used thematic content analysis.
Main findings: The staff emphasizes the complexity of patient disorders and strong appeals as professional challenges. Through the use of TIME, the staff experiences increased coping, shared understanding and joint commitment to treatment for the individual patient.
Conclusion: TIME appeared to be a suitable model for interdisciplinary problem solving and for the development of cognitive milieu therapy in a geriatric psychiatry ward for staff that work with patients without dementia.