Expectations and perception of the psychotherapy process and outcome. Psychotherapeutic factors and the psychodrama specificities in psychodrama group participants at a psychiatric hospital

Abstract

In the present article of the Zeitschrift für Psychodrama und Soziometrie, the expectations (self-assessed at the beginning of the treatment) and perception (self-assessed upon the conclusion of the treatment) of the psychotherapy process and outcome, psychotherapeutic factors and psychodrama specificities are presented and analysed in a psychodrama group for adult participants held in an outpatient psychiatric clinic. There were 12 male and 31 female participants, aged from 19 to 63 years, diagnosed with anxiety, depression, and borderline personality disorder or committed into the hospital after their first psychotic episode. Questionnaires were applied at the beginning of the treatment and at the end. Results showed that the participants' expectations regarding the psychotherapy process and outcomes were quite high at the beginning of the treatment and rose significantly at the end. The same was true of the participants' expectations and perception of the specificities of psychodrama-demonstrating the participants' positive inclination towards this specific psychotherapeutic way of conducting psychodrama. Even though there were no age or gender differences, there were, differences between participants' different diagnoses; there were significant differences in the expectations of both psychotherapy outcome and factors before treatment and perceptions of them after treatment.

Psychodrama Group Therapy for Social Issues: A Systematic Review of Controlled Clinical Trials

“…Alongside result-centered research (which seeks to ascertain whether or not therapy leads to change), it is also important to conduct process-centered research, focusing on elements such as the identification, determination, and relationship between common and specific factors (e.g., participant expectations, therapeutic alliance, the group process itself, significant events research, insight, self-awareness, links between clients’ in-session dramatic engagement, and concretization, etc.). According to recent findings [ 39 , 91 , 92 , 93 ], these factors all contribute to the mechanisms of change at work during therapy sessions.…”

Psychodrama

“…Spontaneity and creativity are stimulated in psychodrama through the use of Roleplay, aiming to increase flexibility in roles (Jendričko & Prosen, 2020). By creating a safe environment in psychodrama, the patient is able to disinhibit their emotions and analyze their beliefs (Abeditehrani et al, 2020).…”

“…By creating a safe environment in psychodrama, the patient is able to disinhibit their emotions and analyze their beliefs (Abeditehrani et al, 2020). In addition, it allows the creation of insights about problems and beliefs (Jendričko & Prosen, 2020), which helps the patient improve their ability to deal with situations, through their simulation (Gulassa et al, 2019).…”

“…The psychodrama session consists of five elements: director, protagonist, auxiliary egos, audience, and stage. It is divided into three parts: warm-up, psychodramatic action or dramatization (exploring the protagonist’s theme through the use of techniques), and the sharing of emotions, thoughts, and insights experienced during the process (Jendričko & Prosen, 2020; Kipper & Hundal, 2003; Prosen & Jendričko, 2019).…”