The effectiveness of theatrical therapy (psychodrama) on social skills, depression and anxiety of clients of Sarab Cold Rehabilitation Center for the Disabled and the Elderly

Background and Aim: Due to the growing population of old age and disability and the high prevalence of mental disorders in this group, it is necessary for mental health professionals to take measures to treat mental disorders in the elderly, especially anxiety and depression. Today, theater therapy is used to treat common mental disorders. Today, theater therapy is used to treat common mental disorders. Therefore, the present study was conducted with the aim of the effectiveness of theatrical therapy (psychodrama) on anxiety and depression of the clients of Sarab Rehabilitation Center for the Disabled and the Elderly. Materials and Methods: The research design was a pre-test-post-test with a control group. The statistical population of the study included all clients with impaired social skills, depression and anxiety in the year 1998-99 (N = 86). Among them, 30 clients with depressive syndrome, anxiety syndrome and social skills disorder were randomly selected and divided into experimental and control groups. Beck Depression Inventory and Beck Anxiety Inventory were used to measure the studied variables. Therapeutic interventions were performed on the experimental groups separately. The obtained data were analyzed by analysis of covariance. Results: The results showed that the therapeutic intervention was effective in reducing the symptoms of depression and anxiety and improving social skills. Conclusion: In addition to interventions and approaches to rehabilitation, education and therapy, as well as art and music therapy, several studies have shown that psychodrama or theater therapy is a useful approach for the disabled and the elderly who are associated withpsychological problems. Research has shown that theater therapy improves social skills, depression and anxiety. The present study discusses the importance of theater and psychodrama in the treatment of social skills, depression and anxiety in the disabled and the elderly.

Keywords:

Theatrical therapy (psychodrama) , Depressive disorder , Anxiety disorder , Social skills