Resumo

FERRE-GRAU, Carme; RODERO SANCHEZ, Virtudes; CID BUERA, Dolors  e  VIVES RELATS, Carme. The expression of the depressive experience: the application of Jean Watson caring factors. Index Enferm [online]. 2008, vol.17, n.1, pp.22-24. ISSN 1699-5988.

The high frequency of people with depressive disorders in Primary Health Care as well as in Hospital and the complexity of care, carry for nurses the need to develop new skills and competences to deal with complete care of patiens and families. To understand a person suffering depressive disorders may be useful an ethnographic look that let us know the subjective expression of the experience of being ill. An appropriate framework to help care is Jean Watson’s Philosophy and Science of Human Caring, trough 10 caring factors that frame the nursing role "to take care of…". This paper tries to analyze the subjective experience related to body and mind changes: suffering and pain, self-image and acceptance, lack of energy, loss of hope… in patients with depressive disorders. It is not possible to control body and not to control mind. To analyze the subjective experience trough Watson’s 10 caring factors, can be a good help.

Palavras-chave : Depressive disorders; Experience of being ill; Nursing care; Caring factors.