Effect of the method of guided imagery on the functionality of cases diagnosed with schizophrenia in community mental health center

Effect of The Method of Guided Imagery On The Functionality Of Cases Diagnosed with Schizophrenia in Community Mental Health Center The aim of the research is to determine the effect that method of guided imagery has on the functionality of individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia in community mental health center. The research is pre-test posttest control group and 631 individuals registered in the Community Mental Health Center (CMHC) of Ege University Medical Faculty Hospital and 55 individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia and 300 individuals registered in the community mental health center of Katip Çelebi University Atatürk Training and Research Hospital and 30 individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia who were receiving continuous daytime service comprised the scope of research. The sampling of the research included 48 individuals that fit the inclusion criteria among 85 individuals who benefitted from daytime CMHC. Study was completed with 24 cases in experimental group and 24 cases in control group. The value of power analysis is 98.8 %. As data collection tool, an Introductory Information Form, Functional Remission of General Schizophrenia Scale (FROGS), Subjective Recovery Assessment Scale (SubRAS) were used. Data were evaluated in Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) program version 20. For the numerical measurements, Mann-Whitney U test, Wilcoxon t test, one-way Anova test, Chi- Squared were used. In terms of sociodemographic characteristics of the participants, the difference between the experimental and control groups was found to be statistically insignificant (p> 0.05). A comparison was made between the FROGS and overall total posttest point averages and the SubRAS posttest point averages between the experimental group and the control group. A statistically significant difference was found between the groups in the mean scores of social functionality subscale of functional remission in schizophrenia (p <0.05). As a result of guided imagery applied to study group 10 minutes daily for two weeks, a statistically significant difference was detected between the mean score of daily living skills subscale of Functional Remission of General Schizophrenia Scale was (z=-2,69 p=0,00),; mean score of health and therapy subscale was (z=-2,37 p=0,01); overall mean score of Functional Remission of General Schizophrenia Scale was (z=-2,41 p=0,01); mean score of Subjective Recovery Assessment Scale (z=-3,70 p=0,00). However, any significant difference could not be found between the mean scores of social functionality subscale of functional remission in schizophrenia (z=-1,80 p=0,07) and the mean scores of occupational functionality in functional remission in schizophrenia (z=-0,46 p=0,64). According to the results of the research, it can be said that the guided imagery application for two weeks has created a significant difference in functional remission of the cases diagnosed with schizophrenia. Key Words: Schizophrenia; Functional improvement in schizophrenia; Guided imagery; Community mental health nursing