Art therapy and chronic illness: An enquiry into aspects of service provision for patients with atopic skin disease

Abstract

This article aims to establish the views of service providers on the potential of art therapy as an addition to treatment provision of chronic atopic skin disease. It uses data from a questionnaire survey delivered in one health board area in Scotland. The questionnaire was designed to identify current services available; patterns of prescribing; and to determine the range of views, beliefs and attitudes held by service providers. The results confirm that the target groups do not prescribe art therapy within their health board area and there is little interest in art therapy as a treatment option. Most respondents were unable to comment on whether there may be benefit for this patient group in either self-expression through art or treatment in art therapy. This seems to suggest that there are major issues for the profession in Scotland with regard to how art therapy is perceived and the lack of provision and appreciation of the potential value of art therapy. Descriptive material indicates a wide range of beliefs and attitudes relating to the psychological impact of chronic atopic skin disease. However, a statistically significant number of respondents perceived that higher numbers of patients do experience psychological problems and that their needs are not being met by current service provision.