The effect of humorous movies on inpatients with chronic schizophrenia

Marc Gelkopf, Bruria Gonen, Rena Kurs, Yuval Melamed, Avi Bleich

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

We assessed the impact of humorous movies on psychopathology, anxiety, depression, anger, social functioning, insight, and therapeutic alliance in schizophrenia inpatients. Twenty-nine psychiatric inpatients in open wards participated in the study. The study group viewed humorous and the control group viewed neutral movies daily for 3 months. Participants were assessed before and after viewing movies with the Positive and Negative Symptom Scale, Calgary Depression Scale, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, the State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory-2, the Multinomah Community Ability Scale, the Insight and Treatment Attitude Questionnaire, and the Working Alliance Inventory. Reduced levels of psychopathology, anger, anxiety, and depression symptoms and an improvement in social competence were revealed in the study group. No changes were observed in treatment insight or working alliance. Video films are a practical and cost-efficient means of entertainment that seem to have a positive effect on patient morale, mood, and mental status.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)880-883
Number of pages4
JournalJournal of Nervous and Mental Disease
Volume194
Issue number11
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 2006
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Humor
  • Mental illness
  • Schizophrenia

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Psychiatry and Mental health

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