Designing a Therapeutic Space Model Based on Familiar Cognitive Patterns for Patients with Schizophrenia

Abstract

The present study was conducted with the aim of explaining the role of architectural components in reducing anxiety among patients with schizophrenia and developing a model for therapeutic space design based on familiar cognitive patterns. The research method was designed using a mixed quantitative–qualitative approach. In the quantitative section, the anxiety levels of 30 patients with schizophrenia were measured before and after exposure to three different architectural images (A, B, and C) using the Hamilton Anxiety Questionnaire, and the data were analyzed through paired-samples t-tests and the Friedman test. In the qualitative section, semi-structured interviews were conducted with patients as well as experts in architecture and environmental psychology in order to simultaneously interpret the objective and experiential dimensions. The findings demonstrated that all three images were effective in reducing anxiety; however, the magnitude of effectiveness was not equal. Image A, emphasizing natural light and turquoise color, produced a moderate reduction in anxiety. Image B, characterized by curved forms and a linear garden, generated a relative sense of security, but due to the absence of symbolic elements, its effect was more limited. In contrast, Image C, which incorporated an Iranian courtyard, flowing water, and arched vaults as familiar spatial patterns, produced the greatest reduction in anxiety and was statistically superior at the significance level of p < .001. Qualitative analysis also revealed that concepts such as “reminding patients of the parental home” and “sense of belonging” were prominent in patients’ experiences. In conclusion, the study confirms that architecture can function as an active factor in the therapeutic process, and the proposed model represents a step toward the localization of therapeutic architecture for patients with schizophrenia in Iran.