Painting as a tool to portray schizophrenia and promote the humanization of medical professionals

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33448/rsd-v14i3.48500

Keywords:

Schizophrenia; Arts; Humanization.

Abstract

Schizophrenia is a chronic psychotic disorder, of multifactorial origin, involving genetic and environmental factors. The concept emerged at the end of the 19th century with Emil Kraepelin, who called it "dementia praecox". Later, Bleuler introduced the term "schizophrenia", emphasizing the division between emotions and behavior. Historically, treatment was primitive, with violent practices such as trepanation and lobotomy. The change began with Leo Navratil, who realized the relationship between art and schizophrenia, encouraging artistic expression. In Brazil, the 8th National Health Conference (1986) boosted psychiatric reform, promoting deinstitutionalization and creating Psychosocial Care Centers (CAPS). Art began to be seen as a therapeutic tool, contributing to the humanization of treatment and health professionals. The objective of this study is to present the research project that adopts a narrative approach to analyze paintings that portray schizophrenics, taking into account artistic, anatomical, semiological and cultural aspects. The analysis was based on articles from platforms such as Scielo, Google Scholar and PubMed. The research discusses how painting can be a form of expression for schizophrenic individuals, especially due to the negative symptoms of the disease, such as difficulty communicating. Analysis of the works of artists such as Edvard Munch, Richard Dadd and August Natterer reveals how their paintings reflect typical symptoms of schizophrenia. It is concluded that art is an important tool for understanding schizophrenia and can help humanize medical care, highlighting the importance of arts in medical education.

References

Amarante, P., & Nunes, M. de O. (2018). A reforma psiquiátrica no SUS e a luta por uma sociedade sem manicômios. Ciência & Saúde Coletiva, 23(6), 2067–2074. https://doi.org/10.1590/1413-81232018236.07082018

Art in Context. (n.d.). Schizophrenia Art – The Relationship Between Art and Mental Illness. Art in Context. Retrieved September 20, 2022, from https://www.artincontext.org/schizophrenia-art-the-relationship-between-art-and-mental-illness/

Carneiro, P. C., & Ayres, J. R. de C. M. (2023). Residência Médica e Reforma Psiquiátrica brasileira: convergências e conflitos na formação para o cuidado em saúde mental. Physis: Revista de Saúde Coletiva, 33. https://doi.org/10.1590/s0103-7331202333047

Davidson, J. (2015). Richard Dadd and The Fairy Feller’s Master-Stroke. American Journal of Psychiatry, 172(11), 1073–1074. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.2015.15070913

Duarte-Quilao, T. (2025). The Humanbecoming Concept Inventing Model: Feeling Isolated. Nursing Science Quarterly, 38(1), 50–54. https://doi.org/10.1177/08943184241291570

Farinha, M. G., & Braga, T. B. M. (2018). Sistema único de saúde e a reforma psiquiátrica: desafios e perspectivas. Phenomenological Studies - Revista da Abordagem Gestáltica, 24(3), 366–378. https://doi.org/10.18065/RAG.2018v24n3.11

Finger, S., & Sirgiovanni, E. (2024a). Edvard Munch’s crisis in 1908 and French medicine: His doctors, treatments, and sources of information. Journal of the History of the Neurosciences, 1–24. https://doi.org/10.1080/0964704X.2024.2357059

Finger, S., & Sirgiovanni, E. (2024b). The electrified artist: Edvard Munch’s demons, treatments, and sketch of an electrotherapy session (1908–1909). Journal of the History of the Neurosciences, 33(3), 241–274. https://doi.org/10.1080/0964704X.2023.2295201

Jaspers, K., & Turra, R. L. (2023). Sobre a relação entre a Esquizofrenia e a Obra. Phenomenology, Humanities and Sciences, 4(2), 148–153. https://doi.org/10.62506/phs.v4i2.196

Harris, J. C. (2004). The Fairy Feller’s Master-Stroke. Archives of General Psychiatry, 61(6), 541–542.

Huddleston, S., & Russell, G. A. (2015). Richard Dadd: The Patient, the Artist, and the “Face of Madness”. Journal of the History of the Neurosciences, 24(3), 213–228. https://doi.org/10.1080/0964704X.2013.849077

Morehead, A. (2024). Edvard Munch and the Medicalization of Modern Life: Towards a Curatorial Medical Humanities. Journal of Medical Humanities. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10912-024-09893-7

Pereira A. S. et al. (2018). Metodologia da pesquisa científica. [free e-book]. Editora UAB/NTE/UFSM. Pereira, D. R. & Sá, M. Ca. (2023). Abordagem de Narrativas como Método de Pesquisa em Saúde Pública: Aproximações Conceituais e Contribuições da Psicanálise. Psicol. cienc. prof. 43. https://doi.org/10.1590/1982-3703003250670

Pereira, M., Labate, R., & FF-AP, E. (1998). Refletindo a evolução histórica da enfermagem psiquiátrica. Acta Paulista de Enfermagem. Retrieved March 30, 2021, from https://acta-ape.org/en/article/refletindo-a-evolucao-historica-da-enfermagem-psiquiatrica

Rebelo, B. K. L., & De Barros, N. L. M. (2023). Arteterapia como tratamento em adultos com esquizofrenia. Revista Contemporânea, 3(12), 25143–25166. https://doi.org/10.56083/RCV3N12-025

Rhoden , J. L. M. & Zancan, S. (2020). A perspectiva da abordagem qualitativa narrativa de cunho sociocultural: possibilidade metodológica na pesquisa em educação. Educação. 45, 1-22. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5902/1984644436687.

Santos, E. V. R. dos, Silva, A. B. A. de A., Piccini, A. P., Vilhena, L. P. de, Brígido, J. V. C. B., Melo, R. P. da S., Souza, T. M. G. de, D`Umbra, I. C., Silva, C. C., & Marques, G. L. P. (2023). Abordagens emergentes na psiquiatria: Explorando novas perspectivas de diagnóstico e tratamento. Revista Ibero-Americana de Humanidades, Ciências e Educação, 9(7), 1087–1099. https://doi.org/10.51891/rease.v9i7.10687

Silva, M. A. P. da, Silva, H. M. de L., Neves, F. P. de B., Teixeira, P. T. F., Timóteo, E. I., & Carvalho, A. D. da S. (2022). Contribuições das terapias holísticas para saúde mental no contexto da pandemia. ID on line: Revista de Psicologia, 16(63), 88–96. https://doi.org/10.14295/idonline.v16i63.3580

Tromans, N. (2021). "Pruning a genius": Marginalia by Richard Dadd. History of Psychiatry, 32(2), 127–145. https://doi.org/10.1177/0957154X20978342

Universidade de São Paulo (USP). (2006). Esquizofrenia: uma revisão. Redalyc. https://www.redalyc.org/pdf/3051/Resumenes/Resumo_305123820014_5.pdf

Valente, A., & Alegre, H. P. (2007). Reforma psiquiátrica à brasileira: Análise sob a perspectiva da desinstitucionalização. PUCRS. http://tede2.pucrs.br/tede2/handle/tede/392

Published

20/03/2025

How to Cite

PELEJA, J. de P.; COELHO, E. C. F.; COUTINHO, F. S.; ESPINDOLA, G. M.; IRINEU NETO, R. A.; CASTRO, S. P. de; SILVA, L. J. da. Painting as a tool to portray schizophrenia and promote the humanization of medical professionals. Research, Society and Development, [S. l.], v. 14, n. 3, p. e6914348500, 2025. DOI: 10.33448/rsd-v14i3.48500. Disponível em: https://rsdjournal.org/index.php/rsd/article/view/48500. Acesso em: 17 may. 2025.

Issue

Section

Health Sciences