Psychodrama in attenuated custody prison-based treatment of substance dependence: The promotion of changes in wellbeing, spontaneity, perceived self-efficacy, and alexithymia

Art Therapy

July 2025

Full Citation

Testoni, I., Bonelli, B., Biancalani, G., Zuliani, L., & Nava, F. A. (2020). Psychodrama in attenuated custody prison-based treatment of substance dependence: The promotion of changes in wellbeing, spontaneity, perceived self-efficacy, and alexithymia. The Arts in Psychotherapy, 68, 101650. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aip.2020.101650

Abstract

This paper presents the results of a six-month psychodrama intervention for the prison-based treatment of people with substance dependence, held in an attenuated custody institution in Northern Italy (Istituto a Custodia Attenuata per il Trattamento delle Tossicodipendenze – ICATT). Seven patients participated in the psychodrama intervention (21 weekly sessions) and were monitored through an idiographic change process using a mixed methods design. The longitudinal quantitative assessment employed the Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation − Outcome Measure (CORE-OM), the Revised Spontaneity Assessment Inventory (SAI-R), the General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSE), and the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20). The qualitative assessment was based on the Client Change Interview Schedule (CCS) and the Helpful Aspects of Therapy Form (HAT). The quantitative and qualitative results supported the effectiveness of psychodrama as a treatment method for this group of patients, showing a decrease in psychological distress; a related decrease in depressive, anxious, physical, and/or traumatic symptoms; and a relative increase in the patients’ general emotional and social functioning.