[Paintings and their progress by psychiatric inpatients within the concept of integrative art therapy]

Integrative painting therapy is a therapeutic concept for the treatment of psychiatric patients. It combines medical and therapeutic treatment strategies. The drawing and painting group takes the central part of this type of therapy. Its main focus is to capture psychodynamic processes with "inner pictures". Due to the creative process of painting the psychodynamic process becomes visible and can subsequently be worked on. According to specific rules the pictures reflect the psychopathology of different psychiatric disorders as well as their development throughout the therapeutic process. The pictures also serve as a starting point for group-, single and family therapy. The patients quickly gain access to their emotions and realize possible conflicts, which form the basis of their psychodynamics. Progress throughout therapy becomes visible and can be documented with the pictures. The structured course of the painting sessions provides additional information. The integration of various aspects helps expand our diagnostic frame.