[Fairy tale drama--an inpatient group psychotherapeutic method for patients with ego disorders]

Patients with "early disturbances" partly display considerable resistance to treatment methods that promote regression or aim at uncovering inhibitions, since they themselves lack emotional differentiation. In an inpatient setting such patients are able to transfer their non-experienced share of feelings and references to the treating personnel. If these transferred feelings are not properly processed and managed, therapy blockades and communication blockades arise, resulting in considerable frustrations of all concerned within the therapeutic community. Against the background of these experiences we developed a ward group method inviting both patients and staff to join hands in creative playing (e.g. by acting a fairy tale on the stage); within this framework it is possible to shape latent group, ward and team conflicts on a metaphorical level. As a result we achieve a reduction of the emotional tension level within the ward, a reduction of team conflicts, and hence an improved therapeutical climate and better possibilities to translate into reality appropriate strategies for a fair solution of problems. The overall framework, the therapeutic concept, as well as the individual stages of work-in-progress in the realisation of the fairy-tale drama are described in detail (e.g. phase of birth of the fairy tale, phase of fairy-tale recital, phase of casting, actual performance phase and subsequent discussion phase). These steps are described both as regards their form and their contents; they are compared with other group techniques of a similar nature.