From the Guidelines
Color can have significant effects on individuals with schizophrenia, potentially influencing their symptoms and emotional states. Research suggests that people with schizophrenia may process colors differently, with some colors potentially triggering or exacerbating symptoms while others might have calming effects.
- Red and yellow colors are often reported to increase agitation and anxiety in some patients with schizophrenia,
- while blue and green tones tend to have more calming and soothing effects. This color sensitivity appears related to the altered sensory processing common in schizophrenia, where sensory inputs may be experienced more intensely or chaotically 1. Healthcare environments for schizophrenia patients often incorporate this knowledge by using cooler, more neutral color schemes to create less stimulating environments. Some therapeutic approaches even incorporate color preferences into personalized treatment plans, though this is not a primary treatment. It's essential to note that color sensitivity varies significantly between individuals, so personal preferences and reactions should be considered when creating supportive environments for people with schizophrenia. The most recent and highest quality study on the treatment of schizophrenia, published in 2020, emphasizes the importance of comprehensive and person-centered treatment plans, including evidence-based nonpharmacological and pharmacological treatments 1. However, this study does not specifically address the effect of color on individuals with schizophrenia, highlighting the need for further research in this area. In clinical practice, considering the potential impact of color on patients with schizophrenia can be a valuable aspect of creating a supportive and calming environment, which can contribute to improved outcomes in terms of morbidity, mortality, and quality of life. Therefore, incorporating color preferences into personalized treatment plans and using cooler, more neutral color schemes in healthcare environments can be a beneficial approach.
From the Research
Effect of Color on Schizophrenia
- The effect of color on individuals with schizophrenia has been studied in various research papers, with some suggesting that color preferences and discrimination abilities may be altered in patients with schizophrenia 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
- A study published in 2015 found that patients with schizophrenia preferred green less and brown more than healthy volunteers, and that their color preferences were associated with certain personality traits 2.
- Another study published in 2020 found that patients with schizophrenia had impaired color discrimination abilities, which were correlated with the severity of their symptoms 3.
- Research has also shown that patients with schizophrenia may have lateralized color discrimination performance, with faster performance in the left visual field than in the right visual field 4.
- A study published in 2021 used deep learning to analyze color paintings created by patients with schizophrenia and found that they tended to use less color and exhibit different strokes than healthy controls 5.
- An earlier study published in 2002 found that patients with schizophrenia made more hue discrimination errors than healthy controls, but did not exhibit a specific pattern of color deficit 6.
Color Preferences and Discrimination
- Patients with schizophrenia may have altered color preferences, with a preference for darker colors such as black and brown 2.
- Color discrimination abilities may also be impaired in patients with schizophrenia, with a correlation between color discrimination and symptom severity 3.
- The use of bright colors such as green and white may be beneficial in therapy and rehabilitation sessions for patients with schizophrenia 2.
Lateralization and Color Discrimination
- Patients with schizophrenia may exhibit lateralized color discrimination performance, with faster performance in the left visual field than in the right visual field 4.
- This lateralization may be related to the failure of left hemisphere language processing dominance in schizophrenia 4.