The effectiveness of schema focused drama therapy for cluster C personality disorders: An exploratory study

摘要

Schema focused drama therapy uses experiential techniques in the treatment of cluster C personality disorders (avoidant, dependent, and obsessive) in order to achieve improvement in dealing with emotions and reducing the tendency towards avoidance. This study explored the extent to which drama therapy is effective in the treatment of cluster C personality disorders? Relevant sub questions were whether or not the clients would visibly show and experience more emotions during the intervention (emotional modes), show less avoidant coping modes, and show more healthy modes when compared to their initial values. Another related question was whether or not, in the client's perception, the healthy modes increased and the destructive modes decreased. In this study, a single group design was used where a group (N = 8) was offered a drama therapy protocol for three months. During the intervention schema modes were measured by using the Mode Observation Scale (MOS) and by a pre-test/post-test design applying the Schema Mode Inventory (SMI). The results demonstrate that schema focused drama therapy produces a positive effect for clients with a cluster C personality disorder with regard to their expressing emotions (T = -11, p .01) and d=.75, the reduction of destructive coping (T = 11, p .01) and d=.70, as well as increasing healthy sides (T = -15, p .01) and d=.70. These results were visible during the intervention and to a lesser extent after the intervention had taken place: emotional modes (T = 8, p .01) and d=.40; destructive modes (T = 12, p .01) and d=.65; healthy modes (T = -16, p .01) and d=.45. While the small size of the sample survey made generalizations with regard to the result difficult, we can say that schema focused drama therapy is a potentially effective intervention by cluster C PD. Subsequent research is necessary in order to further substantiate these positive results. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.