Detailed contribution information
| Contribution title | 2396 - ANOREXIA AND DRAWING |
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| Contribution code | PS01-35 (P) |
| Authors | |
| Form of presentation | Poster |
| Topic |
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| Abstract |
Introduction: Treatment of anorexia is extensive and very complicated. The psychotherapeutical process often stagnates. Aims: The use of drawing in psychotherapy, which is normally used with younger children. Methods: Psychotherapy, drawing. Results: The patient is a girl, aged 17. She has been suffering from anorexia for three years. She refused to eat, exercised intensively, and vomited occasionally. She has a mother and a sister. Her father passed away of heart disease more than three years ago, after which she was 'frozen', she didn't mourn and wouldn't visit his grave. There was no improvement with psychotherapy for an extensive period. She was offered to draw nonsense on a piece of paper, then afterwards to divide the paper in four parts and draw something meaningful on one of the parts. She drew a small boat on wavy waters, which she was able to connect with her emotions. She described the boat as lonely, abandoned and scared, just as she was. From that point on, therapy started giving positive results. The patient began to openly converse about her emotions, and started crying during therapy as well. She stated how she was angry at the doctors for not helping her father. Afterwards, the patient began to eat normally again, wasn't vomiting, and stopped exercising. Conclusion: Introducing drawing into the psychotherapeutical process gave positive results. |