Comparison of the Effectiveness of Theater-Based Art Therapy and Psychosocial Rehabilitation on Emotional Balance in Patients with Schizophrenia

Abstract

The present study aimed to compare the effectiveness of theater-based art therapy and psychosocial rehabilitation on emotional balance in patients with schizophrenia. This semi-experimental study was conducted using a pretest–posttest design with a control group and a three-month follow-up. The statistical population included male patients aged 25–55 years with mild schizophrenia who attended the Iranmehr Chronic Psychiatric Care Center in Qaemshahr in 2024. Using purposive sampling and screening with Korn’s Autonomous Arousal Readiness Questionnaire, 45 patients were selected and randomly assigned to two experimental groups (theater-based art therapy and psychosocial rehabilitation) and one control group. Research instruments included Korn’s Autonomous Arousal Readiness Questionnaire (1998) and Bradburn’s Emotional Balance Scale (1969). Data were analyzed using mixed repeated measures ANOVA, Bonferroni, and Tukey post hoc tests. Results indicated significant differences among groups in both positive and negative emotional balance (p < 0.01). Both theater-based art therapy and psychosocial rehabilitation increased positive emotional balance and reduced negative emotional balance, with effects maintained at follow-up. Bonferroni tests showed significant differences between pretest–posttest and pretest–follow-up in both variables, while posttest–follow-up differences were not significant. Tukey’s test revealed that theater-based art therapy was more effective than psychosocial rehabilitation in reducing negative emotions. The findings suggest that creative interventions such as theater-based art therapy, alongside psychosocial rehabilitation, can significantly improve emotional balance in patients with schizophrenia and may serve as valuable complementary approaches alongside pharmacological treatments.