On December 19, IB DP Υear 2 Psychology students visited Dromokaition, one of our country's oldest public psychiatric hospitals, to gain a deeper understanding of the treatment of abnormal behavior. During the visit, they had the opportunity to meet patients and listen to their stories, which provided valuable insight into their ways of thinking and perceiving reality. This experience allowed the students to learn about the topic in a more practical and meaningful way, beyond what they could achieve through studying and in-class discussions alone.

During our visit to the campus, Mrs. C. Leotsakou, the Director Psychiatrist of the 5th Psychiatric Unit, served as our guide and shared the institution's history with us. She provided a detailed account of how patients were admitted to the hospital, which often involved the intervention of the public prosecutor without the patients' consent. The discussion mainly revolved around the causes of schizophrenia, which is a complex disorder that results from multiple factors, including both genetic and environmental influences.

During the visit, the most insightful part was when we had a chance to meet the patients and listen to their life stories. The psychiatrist guided us through questions that helped us understand their experiences. The theoretical knowledge we had learned in class about depression, hallucinations, delusions, and psychopathology became more meaningful as we listened to the patients' narratives.

The visit ended with a guided tour of the hospital's museum, which included methods of treating patients at the beginning of the 20th century, beautiful paintings, and poems by the patients. The visit was organized by Mrs. A. Karakosta, IB DP teacher of Psychology.