The Therapeutic Relationship Between the Case Manager and the Person With Severe Mental Health Disorder

The first mental health case management programs appear progressively in Spain from the trend towards community mental health with the aim of caring for people with severe mental health disorders outside from hospitals, accompanying them in their recovery process. The mental health nurse case manager is an example of advanced practice in in terms of assistance to the most seriously ill in the community mental health network. The use of the therapeutic relationship as the central axis of care for the person is becomes an essential tool for patient recovery. This study aims, through participatory action, to inquire about the relationship therapy and its effect on the person's recovery. There will be a mixed methods research. First, a participatory intervention with nurses through the recording of four focus groups with the aim of understand, plan, change and maintain the practices surrounding the relationship therapy with their patients. Second, this intervention will be measured by administering scales to patients linked to the mental health case management program that provides service to different areas of the Barcelona Metropolitan Area. The variables to measure will be the quality of the therapeutic relationship, the recovery of the person and the overall functionality. These variables will be measured before and after finishing the participatory intervention. All data will be anonymized, transcribed and analyzed using the software correspondent.