An Empirical Assessment of the Use of Greek Tragedy in Therapeutic Drama in Lagos Psychiatric Institutions

The therapeutic application of classical Greek tragedy in psychiatric and psychological healing contexts has generated a growing international evidence base, with documented benefits for trauma processing, emotional regulation, and social reintegration. Nigerian psychiatric institutions have not yet formally evaluated classical drama as a therapeutic resource. This study empirically assesses the use of adapted Greek tragedy in therapeutic drama programmes at the Yaba Psychiatric Hospital and Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Lagos State. A mixed-methods quasi-experimental design was adopted, comparing therapeutic outcomes (assessed using the validated Positive and Negative Affect Schedule and the Social Connectedness Scale) between a drama intervention group (n=45 patients participating in a six-week Greek tragedy drama programme using adapted selections from Euripides's Medea and Sophocles's Philoctetes) and a matched control group (n=45) receiving standard occupational therapy. Qualitative interview data from participants and programme facilitators enriched outcome interpretation. Results indicate significant improvements in positive affect scores (p<0.01) and social connectedness (p<0.05) in the drama group compared to controls. Qualitative data reveal strong patient identification with the classical dramatic themes of unjust suffering, isolation, and the longing for restoration. The study fills a significant empirical gap in the evidence base for classical drama as a therapeutic tool in African psychiatric contexts and recommends a full randomised controlled trial. Keywords: Greek tragedy, therapeutic drama, psychiatric institutions, Lagos State, empirical study