Relatedness theory as a framework for the treatment of fatigued women

Fatigue is a phenomenon that advanced practice psychiatric nurses may see in both psychiatric and nonpsychiatric clients. Qualitative study findings support the need for health care professionals to intervene with the relational effects of fatigue. This article details the use of relatedness theory as a framework for nursing interventions. Relatedness states of disconnectedness and parallelism, and changes in relatedness elements of synchrony, sense of belonging, reciprocity, and mutuality are addressed. Therapeutic approaches to the negative relatedness influences of fatigue include evaluating the lack of presence, decreasing expectations, addressing effects on the family, and influencing the states and elements of relatedness.