Vojnosanitetski pregled 2013 Volume 70, Issue 11, Pages: 1065-1069
https://doi.org/10.2298/VSP1311065M
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Group art therapy as adjunct therapy for the treatment of schizophrenic patients in day hospital
Mandić-Gajić Gordana (Military Medical Academy, Clinic for Psychyatry, Belgrade + University of Defence, Faculty of Medicine of the Military Medical Academy, Belgrade)
Introduction. The schizophrenics are frequently disinterested and resistant
to standard care. Case report. We presented clinical observations of group
art therapy of two schizophrenic patients during integrative therapy in Day
Hospital. We modified the original “Synallactic collective image technique”
(Vassiliou G, Vassiliou V.). The group is open, heterogeneous, meets once a
week and discusses on exhibited drawings, drawn by free associations. The
patients' drawings and group protocols showed clinical improvement by
lowering depressive themes, more human figures and self-confidence. The
obvious severity of markedly impairment on Clinical Global Impression (CGI)
and Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) scales on admission with minimal
improvement at discharge was rated. Conclusion. Group art therapy enables
visual expression of emotions, perceptions and cognitions, develops creative
potentials and support within the group, thus facilitating the integrative
therapeutic process of schizophrenics. It may be useful adjunctive therapy
for schizoprenic patients.
Keywords: schizophrenia, art therapy, psychotherapy, group, integrative medicine, treatment outcome