Art Therapy

“Occupational therapy in psychiatry is a particularly fine art. Emphasis should be placed on constructive projects to awaken new interests and skills, and these must be adapted to the patient's individual needs. The patient emerging from a manic phase requires limited diversional activities, as it may only increase his responsiveness to environmental stimulation. The depressive patient responds better to easy tasks, as complex activities will increase his feelings of inadequacy. The emphasis here should be placed on diversion, which may take the patient out of himself. The schizophrenic requires activities symbolising reality, the neurotic with pent-up tension should be occupied with activities that give him an opportunity for energy release. Many patients will release more energy witnessing an international football match and by concentrating attention upon public affairs than in actual physical work. The patient identifies himself with his favourite player or team of players, political party or leader, etc. and, by projecting himself in real or imaginary actions, he secures a release of tension. Tension is a sympton of unreleased energy. In the properly selected work and recreations, the psychiatric finds an opportunity to release his unreleased tension, and this is the task of the psychiatric occupational therapist. It goes back to 1913 when the American Psychiatric Association adopted a resolution, namely ‘that occupational therapy marks the standing of a psychiatric organisation, and neglected or omitted the patients are not receiving the adequate care and treatment to which they are entitled.’ After all, occupational therapy is applied physical treatment.— Dr. Z. Wechsler on ‘Physical Therapies in Psychiatry’ in the Australian Association O.T. Bulletin, October, 1951.