The effects of art therapy carried out with schizophrenic patients and their relatives, on symptoms, personal and social skills

Abstract

Objective: We aimed to investigate the effects of art therapy on symptoms, personal and social skills of schizophrenic patients. Methods: Group was consisted of nine patients and seven patients’ relatives. Except for two patients, all patients’ relatives were also included. Group setting was ended after 17 sessions. Before and after the study all patients were applied Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANNS), Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia (CDSS), Personal and Social Performance Scale (PSPS); whereas all patients’ relatives were applied, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI). Results: Decreases in the scores of PANNS negative and general, CDSS, and decreases in the scores of BDE, BAE, ZBI in the patient’s relatives group were observed at the end of sessions compared to the beginning of the sessions. The scores of PSPS were increased in the patient group after the sessions. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that art therapy can ameliorate negative symptoms, particularly social functioning and depressive symptoms of schizophrenic patients in which antipsychotics are not helpful.