INTERFACES OF PSYCHIC DAMAGE AND ART OF A PATIENT WITH BIPOLAR DISORDER: CASE REPORT

Abstract

Introduction: Bipolar disorder (BD) has a prevalence of 1 to 2% and can have significant cognitive, social, and emotional repercussions, particularly in the absence of treatment. Objective: To describe the progression of the illness and the impairments resulting from BD through psychological assessment and artistic production. Method: Descriptive and longitudinal observational study of the medical records and artistic production of a patient with bipolar disorder over a 23-year period, conducted at São Francisco University Hospital in Bragança Paulista, São Paulo. Result: Artistic expression proved to enhance the patient's quality of life and reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression in bipolar disorder. It also aided in the longitudinal assessment of the patient. Conclusion: The importance of art as a complementary therapeutic tool in BD treatment is emphasized. It can be valuable for the adjunctive treatment of bipolar disorder patients, facilitating adherence to pharmacological treatment and enabling a deeper expression of emotions. Patients' artistic productions can be used to assess symptom severity and monitor the disease's progression.