João Apóstolo, teacher of the Nursing School of Coimbra, has created a CD with images that increase the comfort of patients with depressive disorders and hospitalised in psychiatric clinics.
The audio CD was recorded within the scope of a study which led to his PhD thesis entitled "Guided imagery on comfort of psychiatric patients".
This digital support allows for interventions on these patients resorting to mental images. Essentially, it consists of stimulating the imagination of the mental patient on a positive way. The CD also guides the students during respiratory and muscular exercises.
As a result from this intervention, there is a reduction of the levels of depression, anxiety and stress and an increase on the levels of comfort of hospitalised patients, above all in their perceived capacity to begin implementing their personal project.
How does this work?
According to the teacher, «the attention and imagination of the person is directed towards the creation of mental images through the induction of an organised set of exterior stimuli, such as objects, scenarios, emotions, personal relationships, colours, smells, sounds, textures, flavours….so that the person can clear away negative thinking and develop positive thinking in relation to the set of aspects in his/her life and the context which he/she is integrated in».
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