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 a profound glimpse of 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. It’s 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.
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, 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 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. "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.
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
A person with more severe schizophrenia symptoms may be less responsive to traditional therapies. This may be the case when using words to express confusing or disturbing experiences becomes challenging. Art therapy may enable individuals with schizophrenia to express aspects of their experience without relying solely on words.
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 glean 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.
A critical 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.”
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.
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 and accessibility.
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
Schizophrenia drawings may convey a range of emotions and subjective experiences through images. Well-known artists with schizophrenia have included Louis Wain, Bryan Charnley, Vincent Van Gogh, and Edvard Munch. When using words to express schizophrenia symptoms becomes difficult, art therapy may enable individuals to express their thoughts and feelings through images rather than words. Online or in-person art therapy may be a helpful addition to other forms of schizophrenia treatment.
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