Multi-sensory therapy in psychiatric care

Multi-sensory therapy is an activity which usually takes place in a dedicated room where patients experience a range of unpatterned visual, auditory, olfactory and tactile stimuli (Baker et al, 1997). These rooms are designed to create a feeling of comfort and safety, where the individual can relax, explore and enjoy the surroundings (Fig 1.). Multi-sensory environments vary in their appearance and in the equipment they contain, particularly if they are designed to suit the needs of a specific client group. Commonly, the room is painted white or a pastel shade, which optimises the effects of projected light, and it has blacked-out windows that exclude extraneous light. The seating and flooring, in particular, will depend on the type of individuals who will be using the room. Seating may include beanbags or specialised chairs or beds. The floorcovering may be cushioned or textured, or even have lights or pressure-sensitive pads incorporated into it. Equipment that is common to many multi-sensory environments includes: a mirror ball and coloured spotlights (which project moving coloured shapes around the room); a projector (which projects moving abstract or reminiscent images onto the walls); fibreoptic sprays or curtains (which change colour and can be draped over or held by patients) (Fig. 2); bubble-tubes (a moving stream of bubbles in an illuminated tube of water, which also gives a sensation of vibration when touched); a music system (to play restful or favourite music); an aromatherapy diffuser, panels of interactive knobs and switches that trigger sounds or lights when activated; and a variety of hand-held objects that offer particular tactile or visual sensations to the patient. Staff may also choose to take in samples of food for patients to smell and taste. Many multi-sensory environments have remotecontrol devices that enable patients to control the equipment themselves. Other examples of multi-