Research article summary (published 30 Oct 2006):

The effect of humorous movies on inpatients with chronic schizophrenia.

Full 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.

Author information

Author/s: Gelkopf, Marc (M); Gonen, Bruria (B); Kurs, Rena (R); Melamed, Yuval (Y); Bleich, Avi (A);

Affiliation: Lev Hasharon Mental Health Center, Netanya, Israel.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Comparative Study; Controlled Clinical Trial; Journal Article

Journal: The Journal of nervous and mental disease (J Nerv Ment Dis), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2006-Nov; vol 194 (issue 11) : pp 880-3

Dates: Created 2006/11/14; Completed 2006/12/11; Revised 2007/11/15;

PMID: 17102716, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Activities of Daily Living Adult Anger Awareness Female Hospitalization Humans Laughter Therapy Male Middle Aged

Motion Pictures as Topic Personality Inventory Professional-Patient Relations Psychiatric Status Rating Scales Questionnaires Schizophrenia - diagnosis; therapy Schizophrenic Psychology Social Adjustment Treatment Outcome Wit and Humor as Topic - psychology

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