| Abstract [eng] |
This master's thesis explores the experiences of patients undergoing art therapy while being treated for alcohol-induced psychoses at the Acute Alcoholic Psychoses Department of the Republican Vilnius Psychiatric Hospital. Alcoholism remains a highly prevalent and complex condition—a chronic biopsychosocial disorder often accompanied by psychotic episodes, social isolation, guilt, and shame. Despite these challenges, non-pharmacological interventions such as art therapy are still rarely implemented in such clinical settings. The aim of the research was to examine how patients experiencing acute alcohol-related psychosis perceive and experience the process of art therapy. A qualitative, inductive methodology was applied: data were collected during therapy sessions by analyzing patients’ drawings, verbal reflections, and the researcher’s observation diary. Unlike typical art therapy studies that follow a fixed group over multiple sessions, this research involved 30 patients who participated in one or two sessions each, due to the rapid turnover in the clinical setting. The analysis revealed that even during psychological crises, patients were able to engage with the creative process and symbolically express inner experiences. Group reflections played a key therapeutic role, surfacing shared themes of family, guilt, longing, and isolation. The findings underscore the need for small group sizes, sensitive facilitation, and active involvement of clinical staff. This study demonstrates that even short-term art therapy experiences can foster meaningful emotional breakthroughs when patients are provided with a safe and supportive space for creative expression. |
