Client-Nurse Interaction with Individuals with Schizophrenia: A Descriptive Pilot Study

Abstract

Individuals with schizophrenia have difficulty forming social relationships. New research has identified deficits in social cognition. These findings have not been applied to studying the nurse-client relationship. The aim of this pilot study is to describe the verbal and nonverbal communication between a psychiatric clinical nurse specialist and clients with schizophrenia through assessment of their videotaped interactions. Clients showed differing levels of ability to respond to the voice and body/facial features of the nurse. The data obtained can be used as a basis for further investigations regarding the interactions between nurses and those clients with severe and persistent mental illnesses.