Abstract:

Schizophrenia is a complex mental disorder caused by genetic and environmental factors, which is seen with a severe effect among psychiatric disorders, and usually occurs at a young age. This research aims to keep a sociological projection on the life of an individual with schizophrenia. The research is a descriptive study in which qualitative data collection technique is used based on the case study which is a qualitative research design. The study was conducted as part of a case study with a 46-year-old married adult with two children with schizophrenia. The research was carried out in three different sessions based on face-to-face interviews with the participant, the participant's mother and sibling using a semi-structured interview technique to obtain detailed information about the life of the participant. Interview data were collected via a voice recorder. The research data were interpreted and presented in 6 different categories which are the initial stage of schizophrenia, the diagnosis and treatment process, family and social life, suicide and psychosocial support. In the study, it was found that the participant has been behaved, quiet, and has a limited number of friend since childhood. In the initial stage of schizophrenia, it was observed that the delusions of the participant turned him into an unhappy, timid and indignant person, affecting him emotionally, thought and behaviorally in an adverse manner. The participant gradually changed into a lonely person, thinking that people around him were not decent to him, by exaggerating many things that happened in his social environment, in mind. After the diagnosis of schizophrenia, it proved difficult both for the participant and his family to accept the situation. Moreover, it was determined that the problem was mostly caused by the people around him rather than the patient himself. It was decided that the participant had difficulties during the onset and adjustment process to the drug treatment. After the diagnosis, it was confirmed that the participant was forced to marry and subsequently he was made to marry someone through family decision in the hope that it would help him recover. The participant was concluded to prefer to lead an isolated life even in the extended family even though he had substantial support from family member after getting married and having children. In fact, the social life space of the participant was limited to only one room in the home environment. As the participant and his family could not get enough psycho-social support from the authorities for living and struggling with schizophrenia, it was concluded that they lived in very difficult conditions. In this study, it is recommended to disseminate studies on the phenomenon of schizophrenia and to provide psycho-social support for individuals with schizophrenia and their families.

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