The experience of people with mental disorders in social function adaptation after suffering from pasung

Objective: Pasung is a physical restraint or confinement of people with mental disorders performed by non-professional members of society. It can cause various effects on people with mental disorders. Pasung can affect the people adaptation to functioning socially in society following the release from pasung. The purpose of this study was to describe the experience of people with mental disorders, post-pasung, in adapting to society Method: This was a qualitative study, using a descriptive phenomenological approach. Purposive sampling was used to select the participants. Data were obtained though in-depth interviews with seven participants, and the data were analyzed by using Colaizzi's method. Results: Pasung has a physical and psychosocial impact on people with mental disorders in adapting to society. The results of the study can be summarized by four themes: a) withdrawal from others as an initial manifestation of release from pasung; b) biopsychosocial changes after pasung that act as an impediment to performing a social function; c) improved social function through the optimization of support systems, and d) satisfaction with life as a result of social adaptation. Conclusions: Increased social support is needed to optimize the social function of people with mental disorders, post-pasung.