The Effect of Visual Arts Educative Practices on Social Functionality in Patients With Schizophrenia

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to examine the effects of visual arts educative practices on social functionality in patients with schizophrenia. The study population of the research consisted of 196 schizophrenia patients who were registered in Erzurum Regional Training and Research Hospital Community Mental Health Center diagnosed with schizophrenia and still continuing their treatment. The study sample consisted 30 patients in total and 15 of which were experimental and 15 were control groups who read the informed consent form and accepted the information statement voluntarily. The criteria for inclusion in the study were to be between the ages of 18-68 to participate in the research voluntarily to answer the tests and to take part in visual arts practices. Social functionality scale was applied to the experimental and control groups as a pre-test and post-test. Visual arts applications were made to the experimental group, but no application was made to the control group. According to the findings it was concluded that the visual arts practices applied to the experimental group had a positive effect on the development of social functionality of patients with schizophrenia.