The Effect of Recognition and Expression of Emotions Program Applied to Schizophrenia Patients

As a result of the positive and negative symptoms that occur in schizophrenia, patients with schizophrenia may experience negative emotions more frequently than individuals with other mental problems. Since these emotions can trigger psychotic symptoms, there is a need to develop effective emotion regulation strategies to be applied to patients with schizophrenia. Aim: In this study, it was aimed to examine the effect of emotion recognition and expression program on alexithymia and emotion expression in patients with schizophrenia.

Method: Fifty schizophrenic patients who regularly receive outpatient treatment at Sinop Community Mental Health Center will form the universe of the study. Individuals over the age of 18 who have schizophrenia, do not have mental retardation, have no comprehension and hearing problems, have insight, and are in remission will be included in the study. Individuals who meet the study criteria will be divided into experimental and control groups as 22 experimental and 22 control groups. The emotion recognition and expression program prepared by the researchers in line with the literature will be applied to the experimental group for 8 weeks. Personal Information Form, Expression of Emotions Scale, Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale and Toronto Alexithymia Scale were planned to be applied to the experimental and control groups in the pre-test, post-test and follow-up. Follow-up will take place one month after the last session of the study. Psychosocial interventions applied to patients with schizophrenia help patients to increase their level of well-being and quality of life, to decrease negative and positive symptoms by increasing social functionality, to participate in social life, to be an autonomous individual and to prevent stigma. In line with psychosocial interventions, it is thought that the this program to be applied to the patients in this study will basically contribute to the individual patients' ability to recognize their emotions, discuss their emotions, regulate their emotion intensities, and express their emotions. Due to the impact that this program will have on the individual, it is believed that it will have positive results not only for schizophrenia patients, but also for the individuals with whom the patients interact, their relatives and even the society.