| This paper explored nonlinear dynamics as applied to the development of psychosis, and how its application may promote growth and change for a patient diagnosed with psychosis. Chaos, or nonlinear dynamics, is a theory of change that views the whole of a system rather than a reductionistic analysis of parts. This open system suggests that there is order in disorder and that order arises out of chaos to create a new system.; The therapeutic process was examined by way of a detailed case study conducted over a 4-month period, in locked wards of a psychiatric hospital, of a patient with bipolar disorder. The author illustrated how chaos theory might be used as an alternative to present-day modalities in order to smooth the progress of the patient in a self-renewal process. Findings suggest that the perturbances at the time of manic/depressive behavior presented an opportunity for change through a process of "dynamic understanding." During the times of manic-depressive behavior, when a nonlinear approach was implicit, the behavior that followed suggested that a new organization of self was possible. The study offers hope that when traditional methods of treatment are ineffective, this alternative approach may benefit the patient. |
