A Randomized Trial To Test The Effectiveness Of Art Therapy For Children With Asthma

Abstract

RATIONALE: Art therapy has been used to help children struggling to cope with an illness, but has not been tested in a controlled trial with children who have asthma. METHODS: Twenty three children with asthma were randomized to an active art therapy or wait-list control group. Those in the active art therapy group participated in 60-minute art therapy sessions once a week for seven weeks. Sessions included specific art therapy tasks designed to encourage expression and talk about the burden of chronic illness. Measures taken at baseline, immediately after, and 6 months after the art therapy was completed included the Formal Elements Art Therapy Scale, the Pediatric Quality of Life Asthma Module, and the Beck Youth Inventories. RESULTS: Before and immediately after art therapy comparisons indicated 1) improved problem solving and affect drawing scores; 2) improved worry, communication, and total quality of life scores; and 3) improved Beck anxiety and self concept scores in the active group relative to the control group. At six months, the active group maintained some positive changes relative to the control group including 1) drawing affect scores; 2) worry and communication quality of life scores; and 3) the Beck anxiety score. CONCLUSIONS: This was the first randomized trial demonstrating that children with asthma receive benefit from art therapy that includes decreased anxiety and increased quality of life.