The use of Literature as a potential space for groups of Elder citizens and psychotic patients

This report shows some considerations on the use of Literature to promote a space of integration and mobilization for patients who presents a severe psychiatric disease and are participants of a psychotherapeutic group. The methodology used is that of the “Reading Laboratory” (LabLei), developed by the researchers of CeHFi (center of History and Philosophy of Health Science) at UNIFESP. Many researches have been held on this subject with different group such as Medical, Dental, Pharmacology, Psychology Students, but our study was the first one directed to Mental health patients. In another survey still in construction, we are applying the same methodology to senior citizens. The difference in these latter studies, the difference is in the selected public, both outside the scope of academic public.

The methodology  consists in organizing at least two meetings to discuss the content of a selected literary work (it can be a short story, a romance, etc.), not in terms of literary criticism, but dealing with the impact of what was read in their personal lives, as well as the impact of the experience of group discussion in their present life moment. 

The experience has proved to have an effectiveness as a complementary  technique for the therapeutic space, functioning as a potential space, defined in Winnicottian terms,  to integrate personal emotional experiences for patients who have an extreme difficulty to express themselves and to adapt to external reality. Integrating internal and external world is one of the main challenges for this kind of psychiatric patients. Another point to be emphasized is the provision of a non-repetitive communication, able to reveal other psychic contents, giving space to increase the artistic expression and creativity.

Keywords— Health Care, Literature, Psychosis, Winnicott

Author(s): Maria Teresa Mendonça de Barros  Maria Silvia Logatti  Dante Marcello Claramonte Gallian

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