STRATEGIES FOR MAINTAINING OPTIMAL WELLNESS IN THE CHRONIC MENTALLY-ILL

TOPIC. Ways the chronic mentally ill avoid loss of control and the imp ortance of both the therapeutic environment and the nurse-patient rela tionship in helping them do this. PURPOSE. To examine the strategies p eople with chronic mental illness use to prevent loss of control and m aintain health, and ways nurses can help with this process. SOURCE. Fi ndings from a previously published study of seven chronically mentally ill clients in a rural day-treatment center. CONCLUSIONS. Four proper ties related to the core variable of ''preventing loss of control'' ar e relationships, feelings, good attitude, and functional activity. The se properties must be examined within the context of the therapeutic e nvironment as well as the nurse-patient relationship.