What does the literature teach us about research, theory, and the practice of art therapy for individuals with intellectual developmental disabilities? A scoping review

Abstract

This scoping review sheds light on the literature in the field of art therapy for people with intellectual developmental disabilities (IDD). People with IDD suffer from social exclusion and are often pushed into the margins of society. This exclusion is also reflected in the scant research on IDD in psychotherapy and art therapy. In recent years, although research in the field of art therapy has grown and expanded, and despite the abundance of clinical work, there is little material in the literature available to art therapists working with individuals with IDD. This review examines the extent, range, and nature of the art therapy IDD literature. It draws preliminary conclusions from these studies, identifies relevant gaps that exist and areas for future work. The 39 articles reviewed here present the state of therapeutic practice, theoretical approaches and research conducted in the field of art therapy for the IDD population.