Abstract
Title
A STUDY TO ASSESS THE EFFECTIVENESS OF ART THERAPY AMONG PARANOID SCHIZOPHRENIA CLIENTS AT INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH, CHENNAI
Author
P.Yamunadevi & Jayalakshmi Lakshmanan
Email
yamunayashini@gmail.com
keyword
Art therapy, psychiatric symptoms, paranoid schizophrenia
Abstract
There is a paucity of literature on art therapy for paranoid schizophrenia on improving mental status, revealing on need for additional research. The present study examines the effectiveness among paranoid schizophrenia. The program uses art therapy techniques in helping paranoid schizophrenia clients to draw and color with coloring materials like crayons, paintings etc. to reduce psychiatric symptoms through ventilation of inner feelings. Need for the study: The process of making images plays a central role in the context of the psychotherapeutic relationship. The average life expectancy of people with this disorder is 10 to 25 years less than average life expectancy. Objectives: To identify the socio demographic variables of the paranoid schizophrenia clients at Institute of Mental Health. To assess the pretest level of psychiatric symptoms among paranoid schizophrenia clients before art therapy. To evaluate the posttest level of psychiatric symptoms among paranoid schizophrenia clients after art therapy. To determine the effectiveness of art therapy among paranoid schizophrenia clients by comparing the pre test and post test levels of psychiatric symptoms among paranoid schizophrenia clients. To find a significant association between the posts test scores of psychiatric symptoms of paranoid schizophrenia clients with selected demographic variables. Methodology: Research approach: Quantitative approach Study design: One group pretest -- post test pre experimental design. Study settings: Inpatient wards in Institute of Mental Health. Study population: Paranoid schizophrenia clients. Sampling technique: Convenient sampling technique. Sample: Size (n=50). Data collection procedure: The selected samples were assessed for the pre-existing level of psychiatric symptoms by using Basic Psychiatric Rating Scale questionnaire. After the pre-test, art therapy was intervened with the provided art materials daily half an hour for 10 days. On the 10th day, the post-test was conducted by using the same questionnaire. Data analysis and interpretation: Demographic variables and clinical variables were analyzed by using descriptive statistics (frequency, mean, and standard deviation) and with inferential statistics (chi-square test and student “t” test). Result: The study shows in pre-test, the clients have 119.04 of BPRS score and in post test, they have 70.76 BPRS score, so the difference is 48.28. (28.7%) revealed that art therapy was effective and helped the paranoid schizophrenia clients in reducing psychiatric symptoms. There was a statistical significant difficult between pre and post test levels of psychiatric symptoms. Discussion: Art therapy has been widely used as an adjunctive treatment for people with paranoid schizophrenia improves positively the quality of individual’s life and their ability to recover from mental illness. Conclusion: This study concluded that the reduction in psychiatric symptoms reflects the effectiveness of art therapy. So the nurses can educate the clients to practice at home and it is feasible and cost effective therapy
