Basic Body Awareness Therapy in Schizophrenia: A Case Study

Abstract

Introduction: Schizophrenia is a chronic psychiatric disorder commonly characterized by a lack of physical activity, motor coordination, postural deviations, and lack of body awareness. These functional and physical impairments adversely affect everyday life and quality of life. Complementary to both pharmacological and psychological management, movement-oriented intervention consisting of physiotherapy can also offer substantial value.

Objectives: To study the outcome of Basic Body Awareness Therapy (BBAT) regarding postural control, movement quality, coordination of breathing, and body awareness of a chronic schizophrenic patient.

.Methods: This study is a single-subject case study design including a 47-year-old female diagnosed with Schizophrenia. Conducted for period of 2 weeks, involved mindful movement, postural and breathing alignment, balance, coordination and relational movement exercises. Outcome had measured using the Body Awareness Rating Scale (BARS) before and after the intervention.

 Results: The intervention focused on mindful movement, postural alignment, awareness of breathing, balance, coordination, grounding, and relational in movement. After intervention results showed that there was an improvement in postural stability, balance, coordination, breathing synchrony, grounding, and the overall quality of movement and body awareness and functional involvement.

Conclusions: The results suggest that Basic Body Awareness Therapy can be a safe and effective complementary treatment in rehabilitation of chronic schizophrenic patients. Leading to a body-mind integration via conscious movement, BBAT could enhance physical functioning, self-awareness and psychosocial functioning. The evidence base should be strengthened by conducting further research on larger samples and with extensive follow-up.