[Art therapy as a stimulation in the process of social adjustment of schizophrenia patients]

The author presents the stimulation effect of arttherapy offered to schizophrenic patients, professional and amateurs painters--members of The Art Club of the Outpatients Clinic in Gdynia. The author shows the progress of arttherapy in the medical care not only for the psychiatric patients, but also for the chronically and terminally ill and for other people staying on long term basis in care houses, e.g. suffering from AIDS. The aim of the paper is to illustrate the positive changes in condition, familial and social status among schizophrenic patients--amateurs and professionals painters, members of "The Art Club" of the Outpatients Clinic in Gdynia. They were encouraged by therapists having the possibility of exposing their work in 9 public painting exhibition and by the collaboration with similar clubs in Poland and Belgium. One very interesting example of artist creator--whose work was exhibited at the Art Gallery in Brussels was discussed. The author observed an influence of this type of rehabilitation on club members in their private life, and stresses the very positive influence of art therapeutic stimulation on the family and social life of the chosen patients.