What Schizophrenia Drawings May Convey
Schizophrenia drawings can be defined as pieces of art made by people who live with schizophrenia. Making art can provide a way to express a range of emotions and subjective experiences through images. Schizophrenia drawings and art can offer insight into how a person with schizophrenia relates to reality. Through art, a person may convey visual hallucinations, symbolic imagery, fragmented thought patterns, and unique perspectives that may give rise to heightened emotions. In some cases, art therapy may be a helpful addition to the treatment plans of people with schizophrenia spectrum disorder.
Schizophrenia drawings at mental hospitals
Well-known artists with schizophrenia may include Louis Wain and Bryan Charnley. Their works are held in the Bethlem Museum of the Mind in London, England. The Bethlem Museum features works primarily from the Bethlem Hospital, an influential mental hospital founded in 1247. The museum is primarily dedicated to depicting the history of its mental health services and the artwork of people experiencing mental illness, showcasing the immense creative talent of individuals with mental health challenges. In so doing, the museum also seeks to de-stigmatize mental health concerns.
Notable schizophrenic artists and their paintings
Below are some of the most well-known schizophrenia artists and their works of art.
Bryan Charnley’s schizophrenia paintings
Bryan Charnley, who lived from 1949 to 1991, employed “visual metaphor and symbolism to vividly illustrate the physical experience of schizophrenia” in his allegorical paintings. The artist lived with schizophrenia from his early teens onward. At Bethlem, he found inspiration for his later paintings. Speaking of the artworks he saw there, he wrote, “Here I saw art stripped of all esoteric and conceptual pretensions.”
Louis Wain’s schizophrenia drawings
Louis Wain, who was born in 1860 and died in 1939, was an art journalist who studied at the West London School of Art. He drew many different subjects but became known for his drawings of cats. While he became widely known during his lifetime, he eventually struggled with poverty and serious mental illness later in life. Eventually he was institutionalized at Bethlem, among other institutions, where he continued to draw. Bethlem Museum features 56 of Wain's drawings.
Other notable artists
Other famous artists who may have had schizophrenia include Vincent Van Gogh, Edvard Munch, Camille Claudel, and Agnes Martin.
The gratification and challenges associated with creating art
Karen Blair is a contemporary artist with schizophrenia. In "Ability and Disability," an article for the Schizophrenia Bulletin, she speaks of her work and the challenges she encounters in producing art while navigating daily life.
Karen Blair's perspective
"My choice is to use what limited mental power I have to the utmost. I have chosen a career in making art because I find painting to be a joyous wedding between the concrete and tactile and the abstract and intellectual," she writes. At the same time, she speaks of having to carefully weigh the amount of energy she gives to certain activities versus others. To carve out time and energy to create art, she must turn down invitations and activities that can dissipate her energy.
The therapeutic benefits of drawing
Research indicates that drawing can reduce stress and anxiety while fostering self-expression and creativity. One study that investigated the effectiveness of art in reducing stress suggested that drawing "reasonably complex geometric patterns" like mandalas may prompt a meditative state akin to mindfulness, although updated research may be needed. Another study indicated that art therapy could help with regulating emotions and reducing anxiety.
Stress reduction through drawing
Studies note that art therapy may improve symptoms associated with severe illness and increase quality of life. Drawing, in particular, may "regulate sadness, at least in the short term, when used as a way to distract from negative thoughts and feelings rather than express negative thoughts and feelings."
Art therapy for schizophrenia
Enhancing communication through art
Drawings and art can enable communication between a therapist and client. A person may be able to convey hallucinations and distorted thought patterns through artwork. This may not only allow an outlet for expression but also help a therapist gain a better understanding of what their client may be experiencing. A person may also gain more insight into their own feelings and thoughts through their creations. One qualitative extended case report, for example, suggested that art therapy could enhance self-esteem and improve social competencies, although updated evidence may be needed.
Evidence supporting art therapy
A review evaluating the role of art therapy in promoting mental wellness stated, “Various trials on the contribution of art therapy in schizophrenia have showed effective outcomes.”
Methods of art therapy
Art therapy can be done individually or in groups. In general, a person chooses the material with which they want to work from a few options. Then, the therapist and client may use the artwork as the basis for further discussion. The goal is not so much to improve artistic skills but rather to engage and find meaning in the experience. When conducted in groups, art therapy may also foster communication and connection among individuals.
Art therapy
As art therapy tends to be less common than other therapeutic modalities, it’s often easier to find a licensed therapist who practices art therapy techniques online, rather than in a person’s local area. Those interested in using an online therapy platform to work with an art therapist may benefit from its added convenience.
Efficacy of online art therapy
While not much research yet exists regarding the efficacy of online art therapy, current evidence suggests that, in general, online therapy is just as effective as its in-person counterpart.
Takeaway
What are schizophrenic drawings?
Schizophrenic drawings can defined as drawings done by patients or individuals diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia.
What are schizophrenia visuals like?
People diagnosed with schizophrenia may experience auditory hallucinations, like random noises or voices, and visual hallucinations or visuals, like shapes, colors, patterns, people, objects, scenes, animals, or abstract patterns that are challenging to describe.
Visuals can be extremely vivid and realistic and can be frightening for the person living with a schizophrenia diagnosis. The person may or may not be aware that the visual hallucination isn’t real. The frequency and intensity of these hallucinations can vary over time as the person learns strategies to cope with their hallucinations.
Is drawing good for schizophrenia?
Yes, drawing can be therapeutic for people living with schizophrenia as it can provide a non-verbal means of communicating feelings and thoughts and a way to deal with and process the emotions that often accompany this condition. Additionally, drawing helps articulate complex hallucinations that are often associated with schizophrenia.
Who is the artist that draws schizophrenia?
Several artists around the world have drawn their schizophrenic experiences. For example, Bryan Charnley painted as a way to show what a person’s experience with schizophrenia actually felt like, and Louis Wain was an artist who became popular for his drawings of cats. Other artists who have drawn schizophrenia include Edvard Munch, Richard Dadd, Christopher Grant, and others.
What do psychotic people draw?
There is no specific way that people experiencing psychosis draw, but their artwork may sometimes reflect themes of distress, disorganization, or intense emotions. People suffering from any type of emotional distress or mental illness, including depression or substance abuse, may use art as a way to figure themselves out, develop a better sense of the present moment, or cope with their uncomfortable emotions and experiences. As a result, some adults may create abstract or fragmented images, while others might use symbolism to express their internal experiences.
Why do schizophrenics see patterns?
People living with schizophrenia often see patterns due to a phenomenon known as apophenia, where their brains are more likely to find connections and patterns in random places, even when there aren’t any patterns.
What is the most common things schizophrenics see?
The most common hallucinations experienced by individuals with schizophrenia are auditory hallucinations, typically hearing voices that others do not. While visual hallucinations can also occur, they are less frequent, and when present, they often involve seeing people, shadows, or flashes of light.
What is psychotic art?
“Psychotic art” may refer to art that is created by a person who is actively experiencing psychosis. They may create this art on their own or as part of psychotherapy.
What does a schizo episode look like?
A schizophrenic episode can involve hallucinations, delusions, disorganized thinking, and unusual behavior, often making it difficult for most people to understand what is real. Symptoms typically emerge in early adulthood, around age 16 to 30, though they can develop later. Individuals experiencing an episode may not realize their perceptions are distorted, which can make interventions and support essential.
How do schizophrenics view themselves?
People with schizophrenia may have varying self-perceptions, often influenced by their symptoms and level of insight. Some may suffer from distorted self-image due to delusions or hallucinations, while others may struggle with feelings of confusion, isolation, or disconnection from reality. However, with treatment and support, many people can develop a more stable sense of self.
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