The Authenticity of Trauma and Depression in Drama: A Clinician’s View of the Possibilities of Art

Abstract

Trauma and depression often go hand in hand. Depression can develop without traumatic events, but with trauma there are almost always depressive episodes. Going through trauma is dreadful, but the real challenge is to live with the memories. That is where depression, flashbacks and anxiety come into focus. Depression and PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) are treated by psychotherapy and antidepressants, but culture can add a lot to the coping and comprehension processes and to dealing with disorders. Specifically, drama can mirror and help to create a narrative, showing different ways to solve difficulties. In addition, theatre can be a place for discussion or to bring up stigmatised topics. It is more and more essential to destigmatise and share information, but also to find and integrate new interventions into psychotherapy to help patients.

In my paper I have three main goals. First, I compare and show how drama can portray particular symptoms of trauma and depression. For this I use plays by renowned English playwright Sarah Kane (4.48 Psychosis) and young Estonian playwright Heneliis Notton (Emesis), and symptom lists and descriptions from ICD-10 (International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision). Second, I show psychological processes of reception and how they can offer possibilities to work through traumatic events and comorbid disorders, and to learn about them. Third, I offer examples of how drama can be used in therapy or be part of so-called psychoeducation. As I work as a psychologist, I would like to offer an insight from the perspective of psychotherapy and demonstrate the role of art in healing.