The impact of creative arts therapies on emotional speechlessness in cancer: A pilot study

Abstract

BackgroundMusic (MT) and art therapy (AT) have a positive effect on the regulation of emotions in patients with cancer. Our aim was to investigate whether these creative arts therapies can reduce emotional speechlessness and use of maladaptive coping strategies. MethodsWe conducted a pilot study using a pre-post design with a total of N = 22 patients who received creative arts therapy (MT or AT) and additional interventions for emotional perception and processing. Emotional speechlessness, cancer-specific coping strategies, and subjective benefit and acceptance of the interventions from the patients' perspective were assessed to measure the impact of MT and AT. ResultsA total of 19 patients participated in all assessments, with an average of M = 7.53 therapy sessions. Non-significant results indicated a trend toward a decrease in emotional speechlessness for MT participants and an increase for AT participants. Patients reported positive subjective benefits from interventions and participating in creative arts therapy. ConclusionOur results suggest that interventions focusing on emotional perception and processing in the context of creative arts therapy care can positively influence the reduction of emotional speechlessness and that patients accept this form of therapy.