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Neuropsychodynamic Psychiatry pp 491–506Cite as

Creative Therapies and Neuropsychodynamics

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Abstract

Creative therapy methods in psychiatry are procedures in which psychiatric patients work with artistic equipment. In doing so, a special quality of drive is used for creative activities. This can be unfolded in activities, such as creating poetry, painting, music, sculpturing, etc. Neurobiological research has shown that the amplification of certain neuronal brain activities as well as a reduction of cerebral inhibitory functions is effective by the moment of creative actions.

We show how some creative therapy methods are effective in psychiatric disorders. Especially the principle of the binding force in self-fragmentation in psychoses has a therapeutic power. It can be used neuropsychotherapeutically when the risk of self-fragmentation occurs. The resulting improvement of the coherence of the spatiotemporal self is exemplified by different methods:

  1. 1.

    Painting with the help of a computer painting program: The advantage for the patients is that the tools with which a picture is painted can be offered with clear rules and structure, especially for patients who have lost this kind of ability. The electronic distance and the possibility to “rub out” parts of the painting are close to the defense mechanism of undoing; storing the picture is like repression. Thus, psychotic patients can learn again defense mechanisms in a subtly adapted way.

  2. 2.

    Sculpture with stone : The creativity of the sculptor manifests in the slowness of the design process. The stone material offers a particularly high degree of structure. The meditative rhythmic beating with the hammer and the working of the whole body enfold a highly creative binding force which reduces the fragmentation of the self.

  3. 3.

    Video mirroring the image of the self: It is impressive how strongly patients respond to their own audiovisual mirror image. They experience a high investment energy in the self-reference which improves self-coherence and the strengthening of self-demarcation in psychotic patients.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, Psychosomatics, General Hospital of Frankfurt am Main, Teaching Hospital University Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany

    Peter Hartwich

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  1. Peter Hartwich
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Correspondence to Peter Hartwich .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Psychiatric University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland

    Heinz Boeker

  2. Hospital of Psychiatry-Psychotherapy-Psychosomatic, General Hospital Frankfurt, Teaching Hospital of the University, Frankfurt, Germany

    Peter Hartwich

  3. Mind, Brain Imaging, and Neuroethics, Institute of Mental Health Research, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada

    Georg Northoff

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Hartwich, P. (2018). Creative Therapies and Neuropsychodynamics. In: Boeker, H., Hartwich, P., Northoff, G. (eds) Neuropsychodynamic Psychiatry. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-75112-2_24

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-75112-2_24

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-75111-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-75112-2

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