Abstract
The purpose of this study was to describe the interaction among patients in a psychiatric ward and to consider the meaning of the interaction among patients. Data were collected through participant observation in a subacute females closed ward. The data were analyzed by induction. As a result, it has become clear that helping behaviors were the interaction of frequent occurrence among patients. The helping behaviors among patients could be divided into tree types, "concretely helping behaviors" "empathy" "helping like a therapist". It seemed that patients have an impelling motive, and so the helping behaviors among patients were explained by "therapeutic strivings". Sometimes the helping behaviors might be instrumental in the care. On the other hand, the helping behaviors among patients also presented some problems. Considering from the above, it has become clear that the interaction among patients has importance meaning in nursing.
