Construction of Assessment Criteria for Suffering of Long-Term Inpatients with Schizophrenia and its Reliability and Validity

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to construct assessment criteria for suffering of long-term inpatients with schizophrenia and examine its reliability and validity. Then, we conducted a questionnaire survey through individual interview. Fifty inpatients with schizophrenia were used as the subjects. The questionnaire in its trial version had 25 items with a fine-point Likert-Scale. After analyzing the items, 18 items were selected and 4 areas were named: (1) suffering due to reduced selfrespect, (2) anxiety about their own future due to decreased social applicability, (3) lack of familial support, and (4) suffering due to living with a mental disorder. Cronbach's α a of 18 items was .82 and that of the 4 areas was .7-.88. These results showed an internal consistency of the subscale. Therefore, it was thought that the assessment criteria will be useful for planning individual support programs for inpatients to deal with various suffering and also for their palliative care.