Why Service Users Choose Medication-Free Psychiatric Treatment: A Mixed-Method Study of User Accounts

Figures & data

Figure 1 Participant flow.

Table 1 Questionnaire About Reasons for Wanting MFT

		All		Participants Wanting MFT (n=38)
		N	% of 46	n	% of 38
Wanted MFT total		38	82.61	38	100
Want MFT for medication-related reason, incl. free text		36	78.26	36	94.74
Not own wish		5	10.87
Not answered question of who wanted MFT		3	6.52
Total		46	100			Subgroups of Questions % Chosen Either of These
Reasons for wanting MFT	Negative effects/side effects	26	56.52	25	65.79			89.47
	Experienced pressure about using medication	20	43.48	19	50.00	63.16	78.95
	Lack of alternatives to medication	16	34.78	16	42.11
	Conflicts with my understanding of my problem	16	34.78	13	34.21
	Other reason	9	19.57	8	21.05
				Free text (n 17): - Negative effects of medication - Having experienced pressure or coercion - Understanding of problem - Worries about medication - Belief in a better therapeutic process without medication - Finding other ways to cope than medication - Help with withdrawal - Other aspects of the treatment

Notes: Bold box contains the results that are our main focus: from patients indicating MFT was their own wish.

Table 2 Answers to the Question: “I Have Been Respected for My Wish Not to Use Medication” in the 6 Months Prior to Admittance

Response Alternatives	n	Valid %		% of Applicable
Strongly disagree	2	4,44	11,11	6,25	15,63
Disagree	3	6,67		9,38
Neutral	10	22,22	22,22	31,25	31,25
Agree	10	22,22	37,78	31,25	53,13
Strongly agree	7	15,56		21,88
The question is applicable	32	71,11
The question does not apply	13	28,89
Total valid	45	100,00
Missing	1
Total	46

Notes: Orange shade: disagree and strongly disagree, green shade: neutral, grey shade: agree and strongly agree.

Figure 2 Interview themes illuminating reasons for wanting MFT.

Figure 3 Integrated results.