Recreation therapy: reducing the effects of isolation for the patient in a protected environment

The psychological effect of extended isolation in a protected environment is of concern to health care professionals on the Pediatric Oncology Unit at the National Institutes of Health. Problems such as increased anxiety, depression, boredom, passivity, and time-space disorientation have been noted in similarly isolated patients. The development of a comprehensive therapeutic recreation program designed to address these issues, as well as to meet the individual leisure needs of the isolated patient, is seen as an essential component of patient care. This article outlines the rationale and format of such a program.