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Therapeutic use of soap operas

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

David Ogden*
Affiliation:
Gloucestershire Partnership NHS Trust, Gloucester GL14 2QA, email: david.ogden@glos.nhs.uk
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Abstract

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Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BY
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
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Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 2007

Dr Breen describes the therapeutic use of soap operas in a boy with autistic-spectrum disorders (Psychiatric Bulletin, February 2007, 31, ). The use of soap operas is already widespread in old age psychiatry as a tool for informal assessment of cognition. Personally, I cannot bear their blend of stereotypical characters, exaggerated emotions and simplistic conflict, yet feel duty bound to monitor plot lines as a matter of professional obligation. Now it seems our colleagues in child and adolescent psychiatry may become similarly compelled to watch these grinding pantomimes in the name of enhancing the social intelligence of their flock. Is now the time to call for such activities to be formally incorporated into our job plans?

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