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Pat Deegan continues to publish her work. Below you will find some of her recent publications:

  •  Deegan, PE (2007). The lived experience of using psychiatric medication in the recovery process and a shared decision making program to support it.  Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal, Summer, 31,1, 62-69.

ABSTRACT 

Decision making related to the use of psychiatric medication in the recovery
process is complex. This paper describes some of the challenges involved in
making decisions about using psychiatric medications. It also details an
innovative intervention to support shared decision making in psychiatry. The
program includes a peer-run decision support center and a software program to
support the activation of medical staff and clients in shared decision making.

  • Deegan, PE & Drake, RE (2006). Shared decision making and medication management in the recovery process.  Psychiatric Services, Nov. 57,11, 1636-1639. 1: Scand J Public Health Suppl. 2005 Oct;66:29-35.

    ABSTRACT:

    BACKGROUND: Resilience does not refer to a magical state of invulnerability and
    the capacity for resilience does not end when one is diagnosed with a prolonged
    disorder or disease. Despite the enduring legacy of pessimism regarding
    resilience in the population of people diagnosed with psychiatric disorders, a
    majority do recover. AIM: The present study seeks to understand how people with
    psychiatric disorders demonstrate the capacity for resilience in the ways they
    use or do not use psychiatric medications in their daily lives. METHOD: A
    qualitative method and participatory action design was used to analyze interviews
    with 29 people diagnosed with psychiatric disorders. RESULTS: When discussing
    their use of psychiatric medications, research participants also talked about
    non-pharmaceutical, personal medicine. Personal medicine was found to be those
    activities that gave life meaning and purpose, and that served to raise
    self-esteem, decrease symptoms, and avoid unwanted outcomes such as
    hospitalization. When psychiatric medications interfered with non-pharmaceutical
    personal medicine, non-adherence often occurred. CONCLUSION: People with
    psychiatric disorders demonstrate resilience through the use of
    non-pharmaceutical, personal medicine in the recovery process. This understanding
    suggests that medication adherence may be improved when clinicians inquire about
    patients' personal medicine and use pharmaceuticals to support, rather than
    interfere with, these self-assessed health resources.
  • Deegan, PE (2005). The Importance of personal medicine: A qualitative study of resilience in people with psychiatric disabilities. Scan J Public Health Suppl., Oct, 66, 29-35.

    ABSTRACT:

    BACKGROUND: Resilience does not refer to a magical state of invulnerability and
    the capacity for resilience does not end when one is diagnosed with a prolonged
    disorder or disease. Despite the enduring legacy of pessimism regarding
    resilience in the population of people diagnosed with psychiatric disorders, a
    majority do recover. AIM: The present study seeks to understand how people with
    psychiatric disorders demonstrate the capacity for resilience in the ways they
    use or do not use psychiatric medications in their daily lives. METHOD: A
    qualitative method and participatory action design was used to analyze interviews
    with 29 people diagnosed with psychiatric disorders. RESULTS: When discussing
    their use of psychiatric medications, research participants also talked about
    non-pharmaceutical, personal medicine. Personal medicine was found to be those
    activities that gave life meaning and purpose, and that served to raise
    self-esteem, decrease symptoms, and avoid unwanted outcomes such as
    hospitalization. When psychiatric medications interfered with non-pharmaceutical
    personal medicine, non-adherence often occurred. CONCLUSION: People with
    psychiatric disorders demonstrate resilience through the use of
    non-pharmaceutical, personal medicine in the recovery process. This understanding
    suggests that medication adherence may be improved when clinicians inquire about
    patients' personal medicine and use pharmaceuticals to support, rather than
    interfere with, these self-assessed health resources.