Effect of guided imagery on the functionality of individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia in a community mental health center

Objectives: The aim of this study is to determine the effect that guided imagery has on the functionality of individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia in a community mental health center. Methods: This is a pretest-posttest-controlled group study including 631 individuals registered in the Community Mental Health Center (CMHC) of Ege University Medical Faculty Hospital, of which 55 individuals were diagnosed with schizophrenia, as well as 300 individuals registered in the CMHC of Katip Celebi University Ataturk Training and Research Hospital, of which 30 individuals were diagnosed with schizophrenia, and who were receiving continuous daytime service. The study sample included 48 individuals that fit the inclusion criteria among the 85 individuals who benefitted from daytime CMHC. The study was completed with 24 individuals in the experimental group and 24 individuals in control group. The value of power analysis is 98.8%. As data collection tools, an Introductory Information Form, Functional Remission of General Schizophrenia Scale (FROGS), and Subjective Recovery Assessment Scale (SubRAS) were used. For the numerical measurements, Mann-Whitney U test, Wilcoxon t test, one-way ANOVA test, and Chi-squared test were used. Results: As a result of guided imagery applied to the study group 10 minutes daily for two weeks, a statistically significant difference was detected between the mean score of daily living skills subscale of FROGS (z=-2.69, p=0.01); mean score of treatment subscale (z=-2.37, p=0.01); overall mean score of FROGS (z=-2.41, p=0.01); mean score of SubRAS (z=-3.70, p=0.01). However, no significant difference could be found between the mean scores of social functioning subscale of FROGS (z=-1.80, p=0.07) and the mean scores of professional functioning in FROGS (z=-0.46, p=0.64). Conclusion: According to the results of the study, it can be said that the guided imagery application for two weeks has created a significant difference in functional remission of the cases diagnosed with schizophrenia.