Physiology
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Item The Lived Experiences of Families with a Member Affected By substance use dis order: a Phenomenological Study at Amanuel mental Specialized Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia a thesis Report Submitted to the departments of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, College of Health Science, Addis Ababa University in Partial Fulfilment of The Requirements Form as Ter’s degree in clinical Psychology(Addis Ababa University, 2025-06-12) Amira Mudesir; Getahun Tibebu; Beakal AmareBackground: Substance use disorder is a rising public health issue in Ethiopia; it affects not only the person who uses the substance but also the family members. Considerable attention was given to the prevalence and associated factors of substance use in Ethiopia, but the lived experiences of families affected by their member's substance use disorder received limited attention. Objectives: This study mainly aimed to understand the lived experiences of families affected by their member's substance use disorder at Amanuel Mental Specialized Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. It aimed to offer an understanding of the challenges faced by affected families and provide support strategies. Methods: A qualitative phenomenological study approach was used to examine the lived experiences of families affected by substance use disorder. Data was gathered from 12 participants through semi-structured individual interviews conducted in Amharic, with the data recorded, transcribed and analyzed using thematic analysis to identify emerging themes. Results: - There are three major themes identified, reflecting the lived experience of families. These include the psychosocial impact of living with family with SUD, effects on family life and responsibility, and coping mechanisms and support systems. Conclusions: - This study provides a comprehensive understanding of the lived experience of families affected by SUD. Family member experiences show difficult realities. These included emotional distress, stigma, role shifts, disrupted daily life, financial sacrifice, and threats to personal safety. Recommendations: - The study emphasized the need for improving support for families affected by SUD by building long-term care centers, providing counselling and education, training professionals to treat families with respect, and strengthening community support.Item A Thesis Proposal Submitted to the Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University In Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology(Addis Ababa University, 2025-01-01) Abel Negusie; Barkot MilkiasBackground: Auditory hallucinations, often manifested as hearing voices, present a profound challenge for individuals living with severe mental illnesses, especially those exhibiting psychotic symptoms. Despite their prevalence, the nuanced subjective experiences of these phenomena, particularly in the context of Ethiopian psychiatric care, remain inadequately explored. Objectives: This qualitative study aimed to explore the lived experiences of individuals diagnosed with severe mental illness who experience hearing voices at Amanuel Mental Specialized Hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Methods: Employing a phenomenological approach-qualitative study, the research utilized purposive sampling to recruit participants from the hospital. Data was collected from 9 participants through in-depth individual interviews using semi-structured topic guides. The interview was recorded and transcribed verbatim and then translated to English. Thematic analysis was then employed to distill the rich data obtained, facilitating a comprehensive understanding of participants' subjective experiences. Results: From the data on the experience of hearing voices, 7 themes and a total of 19 subthemes emerged. The core themes include Descriptive Features and Characteristics of the Voices, Attribution and Appraisals of the Voices, Emotions Associated with Hearing the Voices, Impact of the Voices, Coping Strategies and Resilience, and Help Seeking Intention. Conclusion: Exploring the sources, interpretations, and impacts of the voice hearing experiences, has highlighted the complexity of living with auditory hallucinations and the individuality of the experience, its interpretation along with the help seeking intention. Hence, this supports thorough assessment and the design of targeted interventions.