This study was conducted to examine how enneagram, which suggests ways to understand oneself and self-growth, can be concretely applied in the area of psychiatric nursing through literature review. The possibility of applying enneagram in psychiatric nursing was studied by investigating how enneagram differs from other personality typology, and the usefulness of its diagnostic method was useful, as well as what kinds of studies were conducted. Results of the research are summarized as follows: 1. Enneagram differs from other personality typology because it does not stop at classifying personality types and explaining them. It offers a concrete direction for treatment and growth, and an insight into the direction of pathological regression. It can be applied in a psychiatric treatment situation by providing healthy and confused functions for internal growth of an individual. 2. There are qualitative, quantitative, and empirical approaches in the diagnostic methods of enneagram personality types. Generally all of these 3 approaches are used together in deciding personality types. As for the quantitative approach, there are RHETI (Riso-Hudson Enneagram Type Indicator) and Korean enneagram personality type tests with proven reliability and validity. As for the qualitative approach and empirical approach, confirming personality types were processed through a workshop that was held for 2 hours per session with 8 12 sessions. 3. Enneagram studies in Korea were started from the late 1990s, and research is being done in the area of education, psychology, theology, management, nursing, and others. In most studies, changes before and after enneagram workshop are investigated. In most cases, it has been reported that positive changes are shown in self-identity, development of ones potential, and career, understanding self and others, confidence, self-love, personal relations, satisfaction at the work place, leadership, skills, maturity, spiritual growth, biblical understanding of human being etc. There were also studies on the relationship between learning behavior types and goal achievement, and a correlation study of holistic education. Recently, studies to examine reliability and validity of instruments of enneagram have increased. By putting together the above results, in psychiatric nursing the enneagram theory can be applied with the following recommendations: 1. The enneagram will be used to develop the essence of personality types and potentiality of psychiatric nurses. 2. The analysis of enneagram related to psychopathology is needed. 3. The research to develop an enneagram educational program for nursing students is required to help them understand self as well as others including patients. 4. The enneagram will be applicable to the spiritual nursing. 5. The validity and reliability of the test adapted to Korean culture is not yet verified. Therefore, further research on the development of culturally sensitive test for Koreans is essential. In addition, various and continuous research is needed to supplement the problem of preciseness of the instrument for enneagram measurement. 6. Further research on the effectiveness of enneagram workshop programs is necessary.