THE DEVELOPMENT OF A PSYCHODRAMA DEPARTMENT IN A MENTAL HOSPITAL

Abstract

This report seeks to describe briefly how a new Psychodrama Department was established at the Mental Health Institute of Independence, Iowa, (one of the four State mental hospitals).

The physical plant of the Hospital is, in general, adequate, and the grounds are lovely and open. The atmosphere 'is permissive and pleasant, and many of the 1400 patients have freedom of the grounds. Most restraints have been abolished, except the minimum for the patient's own safety. There is a "Screening Center" for voluntary patients who can sign themselves in and out for a few weeks at a time and for whom the Hospital may be a place of counsel, reorientation, psychotherapy and freely chosen psychiatric treatments. These patients usually go home on weekends and are of the type who might go to counselors, analysts, etc. on the outside if more of such were available in Iowa.