[A pilot project with clowns in psychiatric clinics].
BACKGROUND
This project examines whether visits of specially trained clinic clowns, as established in pediatrics, would also be useful in psychiatry.


METHODS
We describe the effects of a 6-week phase with one clown visit per week in a ward for acutely ill geriatric patients. The patients and medical team were also questioned about their attitudes towards the clowns.


RESULTS
We found more positive attitudes in patients after this phase.


CONCLUSIONS
We interpret this result as an indication of positive effects and sufficient reason to initiate similar projects in the future.
Wild
B
B
bawild@med.uni-tuebingen.de
Wetzel
P
P
Gottwald
U
U
Buchkremer
G
G
Wormstall
H
H
D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D027641:Laughter Therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011567:Psychiatric Department, Hospital; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D012919:Social Behavior; D014925:Wit and Humor as Topic