Nidotherapy

Nidotherapy, after nidus, is an experimental form of psychotherapy, described as "a collaborative treatment involving the systematic assessment and modification of the environment to minimize the impact of any form of mental disorder on the individual or on society".
Recognising that the physical environment and social context in which someone lives interacts with their personality, nidotherapy first helps someone better understand who they are and the circumstances in which they live, before supporting them in a structured way to identify the best fitting environment and social milleu for them.
While nidotherapeutic interventions might look drastically different from one person to the next, it might often include changes to one's living arrangements, relationhships, occupation or physical environment. A simple example might be a person living alone but who is very extraverted stricken with lonliness choosing to move into a shared residence. In contrast, an introverted person who cannot find a quiet place to restore themselves while living in an overcrowded home, might do much better living alone.

Etymology

The word nidotherapy is derived from the Latin nidus, or "nest".

History

It was introduced for patients with severe mental illness, mainly schizophrenia, and personality disorders² who had failed to respond to conventional treatments and were usually antagonistic to services. The aim of nidotherapy is not to change the person but to create a better fit between the environment and the patient. As a consequence the patient may improve but this is not a direct result of treatment but because a more harmonious relationship has been created with the environment.³ An essential part of nidotherapy is a full environmental analysis carried out from the patient's standpoint and with their full cooperation so that any changes recommended and implemented are understood and preferably owned by the patient instead of being imposed. Although nidotherapy has been classed as a psychotherapy, it differs in not trying to alter the patient, only the environment.

Medical and therapeutic use

Nidotherapy has been used mainly in the treatment of severe mental illness in assertive community treatment and community mental health services.^4-6
There is no good evidence that any form of nidotherapy is effective, and no high-strength evidence exists to show that any type of treatment is effective for schizophrenia or mania.