Theatre activity improves well-being and reduces drug utilization in inmate subjects. Results from a pilot study

In this paper a study to determine if a theatre activity should improve well-being and reduce drug utilization in inmates is described. The study was conducted at the Casa di Reclusione prison of Fossombrone (Marche, Italy), using the Italian version of the Psychological General Well-Being (PGWB) Index and the consumption of psychotropic drugs as evaluative instruments. The psychological impairment of inmates is an obvious consequence of their lack of freedom. It is also well known that in prison the consumption of antianxiety and psychotropic drugs is very high with respect to the general population 1-4. The healthcare budget dedicated to the Italian prison system has been steadily reduced over the last twenty years, and a reversal in this trend is not foreseen. Given this dire budgetary situation, not to mention general ethical considerations, improving the health of inmates should be a priority. For these reasons, the School of Pharmacy of the University of Urbino “Carlo Bo” (Marche, Italy), the Italian Ministry of Justice and the Casa di Relusione prison in Fossombrone (March, Italy) have collaborated over the last three in a study developed to verify if the involvement of inmates characterized by a high level of psychological impairment in a 1.5-year theatre activity can improve their feeling of well-being together with a reduction of drug consumption