LAUGHTER IN A PSYCHIATRIC-WARD - SOMATIC, EMOTIONAL, SOCIAL, AND CLINICAL INFLUENCES ON SCHIZOPHRENIC-PATIENTS

The study was designed to explore the potential therapeutic effects of humor on hospitalized schizophrenics. For this purpose, in the first stage, we conducted a review of findings in regard to physical health, emotions, psychiatric state, and social behavior. In the second stage , we carried out an experiment with 34 resident patients in two chroni c schizophrenic wards who were exposed to 70 movies during 3 months. T he experimental group was exposed to humorous movies only, and the con trol group to different kinds of movies. Before and after the exposure to films for 3 months, both groups were tested on different health, e motional, social, and clinical measures using the Cognitive Orientatio n of Health Questionnaire, the Shalvata Symptom Rating Scale, blood pr essure, heart rate, Perceived Verbal and Motor Aggression (rated by nu rses), the Multiple Affect Adjective Check List, the Social Support Qu estionnaire 6, and the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS; rated by psychiatrists). Covariance analyses yielded significant reductions in Perceived Verbal Hostility, BPRS scales (total score, anxiety/depressi on), and significant increases in BPRS (activation) and degree of staf f support experienced by the patients. The results indicate that the e ffects of exposure to humor may be mediated by the effects on the staf f of the incidental exposure to humorous films.