‘Client's perspectives and the efficacy of Dramatherapy for Early Psychosis’

ABSTRACT

Background

Dramatherapy is not a standard treatment pathway within Early Intervention in Psychosis (EIP), but it appears evident that it has a place in locations where treatment options are insufficient for some within this population.

Aims

To review service evaluation data following an 8-year period of Dramatherapy in EIP. We wanted to understand how Dramatherapy was relevant to recovery from the client’s perspective and evaluate the specific change ingredient present in Dramatherapy interventions.

Methods

We carried out a thematic analysis upon 47 client feedback questionnaires following a period of Dramatherapy.

Results

The analysis illustrated two main themes; clients’ “experience of Dramatherapy” and “the process of change”. Findings indicated the importance of a place to reflect using theatrical techniques. They valued the method of co-produced sessions which prioritised shared experience engendering peer support which enabled clients to gain new perspectives together. Dramatherapy supported clients to become more communicative with others, more able to engage in activities and develop new perspectives.

DIscussion

Dramatherapy is a much-required additional intervention for those experiencing psychosis and for EIP settings which are dominated by cognitive approaches. Client perspectives have been able to demonstrate the value of dramatic techniques in their recovery.

KEYWORDS:

• Dramatherapy
• early
• intervention
• psychosis
• creative

Acknowledgements

We would like to acknowledge the contributions of Chloe Haines for her Dramatherapy provision within the York service, Dr Anjula Gupta in the development of the Satisfaction and Change questionnaire and for her support, and Madeline Anderson-Warren for her advice at the outset of this project.

Disclosure statement

Authors are employed by the service outlined within this evaluation and were all involved with the Dramatherapy provision evaluated. The Dramatherapy provision at our service received funding from Leeds and York Partnership Foundation Trust, Comic Relief and later from the Big Lottery fund, but the evaluation and research elements presented in this article have not received any funding outside of our standard employment agreement.

Data availability statement

At the outset of this service evaluation, participants consented to their data only being shared with the Dramatherapist and Assistant Psychologist within the service, though the results to be written up for publication. As such, supporting data is not available in a repository.

Supplementary material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed online at https://doi.org/10.1080/17522439.2022.2141843