At the tipping point: Patient experiences of addiction to benzodiazepines and motivation to seek treatment.

INTRODUCTION: Addiction to benzodiazepines is a serious problem, and it is important to better understand how individuals can be motivated to quit. Few studies have investigated patients' perceptions and experiences of addiction to benzodiazepines and there is a need to better understand the influence of motivational factors on treatment seeking. METHODS: In this qualitative study, nineteen adults undergoing treatment for addiction to benzodiazepines participated in semi-structured individual interviews which were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. RESULTS: Participants both defined addiction in relation to and found motivation to quit using benzodiazepines in the negative effects they experienced. Three themes were identified relating to a patient's journey towards a "tipping point" where they were motivated to seek treatment. Participants described that as their addiction grew, benzodiazepine use became a constant mental preoccupation resulting in the need to procure more medication. Participants faced a crossroads as their benzodiazepines became less effective, and many entered a negative cycle of dose escalation and withdrawal symptoms. Participants also described many negative impacts on psychosocial and practical aspects of their daily lives as they lost control to benzodiazepines. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study provide insight to patient perspectives on benzodiazepine addiction and suggests that patients find motivation to quit when the consequences related to benzodiazepine use reach a tipping point. Motivation is of clinical importance in the decision to seek treatment, and by working to identify and cultivate individual motivational factors, healthcare providers may be able to help more patients recover from addiction to benzodiazepines.

Sensory rooms in psychiatric inpatient care: Staff experiences.

There is an increased interest in exploring the use of sensory rooms in psychiatric inpatient care. Sensory rooms can provide stimulation via sight, smell, hearing, touch and taste in a demand-free environment that is controlled by the patient. The rooms may reduce patients' distress and agitation, as well as rates of seclusion and restraint. Successful implementation of sensory rooms is influenced by the attitudes and approach of staff. This paper presents a study of the experiences of 126 staff members who worked with sensory rooms in a Swedish inpatient psychiatry setting. A cross-sectional descriptive survey design was used. Data were collected by a web based self-report 12-item questionnaire that included both open- and closed-ended questions. Our findings strengthen the results of previous research in this area in many ways. Content analyses revealed three main categories: hopes and concerns, focusing on patients' self-care, and the room as a sanctuary. Although staff initially described both negative and positive expectations of sensory rooms, after working with the rooms, there was a strong emphasis on more positive experiences, such as letting go of control and observing an increase in patients' self-confidence, emotional self-care and well-being. Our findings support the important principals of person-centred nursing and recovery-oriented mental health and the ability of staff to implement these principles by working with sensory rooms.