Using psychodrama for information gathering.

Abstract

Based on the results presented here, psychodrama has a definite place in the treatment of acute and chronic psychiatric clients. It works especially well with these clients on an information-gathering level to elicit information about a client's past unresolved conflicts and feeling relating to them. This data is not often available in the social and psychological history. An additional benefit of this exercise is the accelerated acceptance of the new client into the open-ended, ongoing group. It has also proved to make future group sessions more meaningful to the new member. The implementation of psychodrama at the information gathering level has benefited the therapists clinically and, at the same time, enhanced the client's total participation in group.