Abstract
Introduction: Some research indicates that having a strong sense that one possesses
free will may be associated with better psychological and physical health. This study
is the first to examine the relationship between free will perceptions and psychiatric
symptoms in patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia. Method: Thirty-two participants
were interviewed using the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale to assess symptom
severity and the Free Will Subscale of the Free Will and Determinism Scale to assess
free will perceptions. Results: As hypothesized, a negative association was found
between free will perceptions and total symptom severity, though it appears that this
was mainly accounted for by positive symptoms. A content analysis was also conducted
to qualitatively examine how patients conceptualize the construct of free will
and its role in coping with their own mental illness. Discussion: Study results suggest
that holding a free will perspective may mitigate psychiatric symptoms in
patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia. Thus, psychiatric nurses and other mental
health clinicians may improve current treatments for schizophrenia by helping
patients recognize situations where they do have some freedom of choice over their
actions and emotional reactions (free will) to stressful life events