THE ROLE OF THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITIES IN THE RECOVERY OF PEOPLE TREATED FOR SCHIZOPHRENIA SPECTRUM DISORDERS

Objectives. The aim of the study is to learn about the function of active participation of hospitalized patients diagnosed with schizophrenia who took part in the therapeutic activities and its effect on recovery. In the treatment of people with schizophrenia, the use of antipsychotic drugs is standard, but in many patients, the improvement in functioning is not fully satisfactory. It is highly reasonable to include therapeutic-based relations in the treatment process. Methods. The research was conducted on 134 patients hospitalized at 24/7 departments who have been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia or schizoaffective psychosis. The level of psychopathology syndrome escalation was measured by the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) S. R. Kay, L. A. Opler, A. Fiszbein and a questionnaire of the researcher's authorship that allows defining the level of a patient's commitment into therapy. Two subgroups were distinguished, based on proprietary criteria taken from examination: one with a positive effect on the health and the other that failed to succeed. The selected groups were brought into comparison according to differences between the recovery level of the patients and the frequency of participation in the therapeutic activities. Results. The patients attendance in therapeutic activities (occupational therapy, psychoeducation, psycho-drawing, music therapy, group psychotherapy, individual psychotherapy, patient club) among the group with positive recovery effect was significantly superior to the group with negative recovery effect. Conclusions. Active and systematic participation in therapeutic activities was relevantly supportive of the recovery of the patients diagnosed with schizophrenia disorders.