NOTE ON INDICATIONS AND CONTRA-INDICATIONS FOR ACTING OUT IN PSYCHODRAMA

Abstract

The psychodramatic realization of suicidal or homicidal fantasies may give courage and prepare a patient to carry out the suicide in life itself. Such a patient may be already warmed up to the near-action point when the treatment begins. It is obvious that such a treatment process is contra-indicated unless the greatest precautions are taken to protect the patient against himself. First of all, he has to be in the supervised environment of a hospital community. It is contra-indicated in day hospitals, in doctors' offices and in extra-mural clinics.