The OPUS Panel The invisible diagnosis in real life

Poster A88, Monday, October%208, 11:30%20am%20-%201:00%20pm, Essex%20Ballroom

Marianne Melau1, Josefine Winter1, Tina Iversen1, Lene Eplov1, Merete Nordentoft1; 1Mental Health Center Copenhagen, Copenhagen University Hospital

Background: The OPUS panel is an innovation that has grown out of practice and has proved strong and viable. The panel was founded in 2009 by a group of young people who have been in treatment in a Specialized Early Interventions (SEI) teams in Denmark. The panel consists of young people who have previously been patients and who are interested in bringing their experiences forward. The purpose of the panel is that they with their personal history and through dissemination about living with an invisible disease helps to broaden the knowledges about the diagnosis of schizophrenia, and reduce the stigmatization experienced by both patients and therapists in the area. In addition, increase the hope for current patients treated in SEI and affect the treatment culture. The OPUS panel has 70 members, including 5 relatives, of which 20 are active in turn. The panel is important as it supports recovery, hope and empowerment, and reduces stigmatization of mental illness in the public sector. Aim: We want to explore and describe the panel as a bottom-up concept, and to investigate whether the OPUS panel serves as an important contribution to the anti-stigmatization, recovery and supplement to SEI treatment. Method: In a qualitative design, using a phenomenological frame, we will originate data from 20 in-depth semi-structured interviews with participants who in different ways have interface with the panel, and do observation of panel meetings. Results: Collection of empirical data, analysis and will take place from ultimo 2018. Data will be presented in 2020.

Topic Area: First Episode Psychosis

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