| Abstract [eng] |
Thesis title. The Process of Drama Therapy for Adults with Anxiety Spectrum Disorders in Mental Day Center: A Perspective of Therapists and Patients Background. Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illnesses in the world. Based on a biopsychosocial model, efforts are made to treat these disorders, not by hospitalizing patients, but by providing professional care in mental day hospitals. The aim of these institutions is to provide full–fledged treatment that includes medication, traditional psychotherapies, and alternative methods. In Lithuania’s mental day hospitals drama therapy services are not provided. Although, based on scientific research, positive outcomes of this therapy are proven in mental health treatment. Objective. To reveal how drama therapy affects adults with anxiety disorders in a mental day hospital. Participants. 3 women with anxiety disorders who attended drama therapy in a psychiatric day hospital and 3 drama therapy students who worked as therapists in different psychiatric day hospitals in Lithuania. Methods. The qualitative inquiry was chosen as a research strategy in this study. The research tool is a semi–structured interview. For data analysis, reflexive thematic analysis by Braun and Clarke (2006) was applied. Results. The analysis of the data revealed four themes: 1. Drama therapy – an unconventional way to get to know oneself; 2. Peculiarities of group therapy in a mental day center; 3. Anxiety and how to reduce it; 4. Drama therapy in the context of a mental day hospital. Conclusions. Art therapies, as alternative healing methods in addition to regular mental day hospital services, can be useful interventions for enhancing and improving mental health. In the treatment of people with anxiety disorders, the methods used in expressive art therapies can reduce the symptoms of anxiety. In drama therapy, anxiety symptoms are effectively alleviated by diverting thoughts from one's problems to focusing on the therapeutic process and through physical or creative action. This therapy, as a therapeutic intervention, reveals itself by providing a sense of community and developing social and other skills. |
