THE EFFECT OF POETRY THERAPY GROUP ON COMMUNICATIONAL SKILLS OF SCHIZOPHRENIC PATIENT

Schizophrenia as a complex psychiatric syndrome has profound destructive
influence on different aspects of patient’s behaviors. Psychological interventions in combination with
antipsychotic agents are effective on clinical symptoms and social functions of schizophrenic patient.
The purpose of the present study was to test the effectiveness of poetry group therapy on
communicational skills of schizophrenic patient.
Material and Methods: in this clinical trail, 29 schizophrenic patients were selected via convenience
sampling and then subjects were randomly assigned to poetry therapy group, (n=14) and control group
(n=15). For experimental group, poetry group therapy was held in one hour session, twice weekly for 6
weeks. The Activity daily living impairment scale (communicational skills) was used as research
instrument. Statistical analysis was done by using independent t-test and paired t-test.
Results: After the poetry group therapy program, the patients in the experimental group showed
significant improvement in the communicational skills comparing to the controls (P<0.05). There was
no significant difference in patients communicational skills before and after intervention in control
group (P>0.05). After intervention, we found significant differences between poetry therapy and control
group (P< 0.05).
Conclusion: The study findings indicate poetry therapy group is effective in improvement of
communicational skills of schizophrenic patient