Art Therapy Intervention Research Articles

Developing social and cognitive skills among Arab parents of preschool children with behavioral disorders

ABSTRACT Cognitive-behavioral interventions to improve social and cognitive skills of children with behavioral disorders and their parents may extend beyond Western culture and provide effective intervention methods for parents in Arab society. The benefits of this intervention method on Arab parents of preschool children with behavioral disorders must be investigated. The current study examined the efficacy of acquiring social and cognitive skills in a tailored intervention designed for Arab parents of preschool children with behavioral disorders. The sample included 48 Arab parents, each with a child aged 4-5 with behavioral disorders, attending pre-schools in Israel. Parents completed the Bloomquist questionnaire and self-reported their own and their child’s behaviors across several domains. Parents were then randomized to either the experimental treatment group or a control group, consisting of the cognitive-behavioral intervention and an art therapy intervention, respectively. The cognitive-behavioral intervention focused on fostering social and cognitive skills within the parentchild dyad. This intervention demonstrated improvements in several behavioral domains. This suggests the unique efficacy of the cognitive-behavioral intervention, which is consistent with prior studies. The current study represents the first systematic examination of an intervention for parents of preschool children with behavioral disorders within Arab society.

The Use of Art Therapy in Alleviating Mental Health Symptoms in Refugees: A Literature Review

There are over thirty million refugees globally with severe experiences of trauma. Art therapy intervention allows for nonverbal expression and could alleviate mental health symptomatology among refugees. The present review’s aim was to integrate and summarize the previous research which examined the effects of visual arts on alleviating psychological conditions of refugees. However, due to the paucity of studies which solely used visual arts, we included studies that used visual arts alongside other modalities as part of an expressive arts therapy intervention. The present review synthesizes studies that examined the effect of art therapy on mental health issues of refugees from January 2000 to March 2021. Seven studies (child and adolescent sample, N = 5 and adult sample, N = 2) with a total of 298 refugee participants (n = 298) met our inclusion criteria. The participants were from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), Southeast Asia, and Europe. We found three commonly reported mental health disorders, namely Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and Major Depression Disorder. The research highlights how art therapy interventions could be a great starting point to alleviate symptomatology among refugees. Four additional benefits of art therapy which were commonly reported across the seven studies emerged from this review: working with traumatic experience/loss, rebuilding social connection and trust, nonverbal communication and self-expression of loss and trauma, and retelling stories. Art therapy interventions could be used as a starting point in the healing process of traumatized refugees to encourage verbal articulation of their feelings and reduce mental health symptoms. Despite these promising findings, due to a dearth of robust methodologies, further research is required to assess the long-term effectiveness of art therapy.

The effect of group art therapy on acculturative and academic stress of Chinese graduate students in South Korea.

Research has shown that international students, specifically Chinese graduate students in South Korea, are vulnerable to stress and depression because of various factors. These include environmental changes, economic constraints, interpersonal difficulties, discrimination, and cultural conflict. This study investigates the effectiveness of group art therapy in reducing acculturative stress and academic stress among Chinese graduate students in South Korea. Thirty participants were recruited and randomly assigned to the experimental (n = 15) and control groups (n = 15). The experimental group received eight 120-min sessions of group art therapy. Both groups were tested for acculturative stress (perceived discrimination, homesickness, perceived hate, fear, stress due to change/culture shock) and academic stress (schoolwork stress, future stress, social stress, living environment stress) before and after the art therapy intervention. Results were compared using the Mann-Whitney U test and the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. The results showed that there was a significantly greater reduction in acculturative and academic stress in the experimental than the control group. Group art therapy can provide psychological and emotional support to international students studying abroad.

Play therapy and storytelling intervention on children's social skills with attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder.

Attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neuro-behavioral disorder that negatively affects educational, relational, and occupational aspects of one's life. Although many children diagnosed with this disorder can benefit from taking medication, particularly for core symptoms, play therapy and storytelling can be seen as engaging, stimulating, and more compatible with children's developmental needs. The social skills of these children are as vital as other symptoms and can be better addressed with cognitive-based art therapy interventions. Because little research has been focused on the combination of play therapy and storytelling and the social interactions of children with ADHD are highly important in academic settings, this study aimed to determine the effects of this combination on children's social skills with ADHD. This survey was a quasi-experimental study with a pre-test-post-test design and a control group. Participants were 7-11-year-old girls and boys with ADHD based on DSM-V referred to child and adolescent psychiatrists' clinics. Selected children were randomly allocated into intervention and control groups. The intervention group received an individual combined intervention of play therapy and storytelling, whereas the control group did not receive any therapeutic intervention for social skills at that time and was on the waiting list. The research tool was the Social Skills Rating System (SSRS), and data were computer-analyzed using SPSS-20 and a couple of descriptive and analytic tests including ANCOVA. In this study, 30 children with ADHD were included. The combined intervention of play therapy and storytelling has had a significant effect on post-test results of ADHD patients in terms of social skills as well as all test subscales (P < 0/05). There was a significant improvement in the subscales of self-expression, self-control, responsibility, and cooperation (P < 0.05). Results show promise for combined play therapy and storytelling intervention to enhance the social skills of elementary school children diagnosed with ADHD.

Effectiveness of communication skills training through painting therapy on parent-child relationship and social skills

Aim: This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of communication skills training through painting therapy on parent-child relationships and social skills. Method: This was a quasi-experimental study with pretest, posttest and follow-up design which using experimental and control groups. Among all second-grade elementary female students in Takestan City, 24 participants were selected using available sampling method and randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. The students in the experimental group participated in 11 sessions of communication skills training based on paint therapy which taken from group art therapy intervention (Martin, 2009) and previous intervention protocols (Ehsanpour, 2016; Shelani, 2015) and the control group did not receive any intervention. Data were gathered using parent-child relationship scale (Pianta, 1994) and social skills rating scale (teacher form) (Gresham &amp; Elliott, 1990) in the pre-test, post-test and follow-up phases and analyzed using repeated measures analysis of covariance. Results: The results showed that in the experimental group, compared to the control group, after communication skills through painting therapy, the scores of closeness dimension in parent-child relationships (F= 28.09, P=.001) and social skills (F= 44.68, P=.001) had increased significantly and the scores of dependency (F= 22.80, P=.001) and conflict (F= 133.58, P=.001) dimension in parent-child relationships had significantly decreased. Conclusion: Based on the findings, it can be concluded that to improve parent-child relationships and children's social skills, communication skills training through painting therapy can be used.

Creative Art Therapy for Improving Depression, Anxiety, and Stress in Patients with Stroke: A Quasi-Interventional Study.

Creative art therapy is a psychotherapeutic approach used to enhance the mental health status of patients. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of creative art therapy on the levels of depression, anxiety, and stress in Jordanian patients following stroke. One-group pretest-posttest design was used; it included four sessions of creative art therapy which were conducted as two sessions for two weeks. This study recruited 85 participants who were within three months poststroke diagnosis. The Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale was used to assess the levels of psychological reactions pre and post creative art therapy intervention. The data showed that there was a statistically significant improvement in the levels of depression (t = 37.98; p < .001), anxiety (t = 20.59, p < .001), and stress (t = 35.52, p < .001) post-intervention. There was a statistically significant improvement in the study-related psychological aspects following creative art therapy. The findings of this study suggest that creative art therapy is a valuable method to complement other types of treatments among patients with stroke, resulting in positive patient mental health outcomes. Creative art therapy could be used as a psychotherapeutic approach to manage mental health complexities among patients with stroke. Health policymakers are invited to use the findings of this study to establish tailored counselor services using this new psychotherapeutic approach.

The physical and psychological outcomes of art therapy in pediatric palliative care: A systematic review.

The integration of art therapy in health care is a growing trend in the care of cancer patients. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the physical and mental benefits of art in children with cancer. A systematic review of English articles using Google Scholar, MEDLINE via PubMed, Scopus, the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and the Web of Science was conducted. Relevant keywords for cancer, child, art therapy and their synonyms were used accordingly. All searches were conducted to December 31, 2021.Relevant articles were included studies published in English and involving children aged 0-18 years. Studies evaluated the effects of art therapy in children with cancer. Seventeen studies had inclusion criteria, of which 12 studies were performed by clinical trial and 5 studies were performed by quasi-experimental method. Sixteen studies evaluated one type of art-therapy intervention, while one study used a combination of art-therapy approaches.The results showed that art-based interventions in the physical dimension lead to more physical activity, stability in breathing, and heart rate, and these children reported less pain. In the dimensions of psychology had less anxiety, depression, and anger but at the same time had a better quality of life and more coping-related behaviors. It seems that the use of art therapy in pediatric palliative care with cancer can have good physical and psychological results for the child, but it is suggested to evaluate the effects of these interventions in children at the end of life.

Doodle Art Therapy to Improve the Quality of Life Vascular Dimensia Prevention

Vascular dementia is a cause of urgent public health problems. Cerebrovascular diseases such as stroke are often the main factor in the incidence of dimensionality. Doodle art as part of the art can be a therapy that provides sensory and cognitive stimulation for sufferers who experience neurological disorders such as brain injuries, strokes, and brain tumors. In this context, therapy is expected to decrease the risk of patients developing vascular dementia, and promote quality of life. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of doodle art therapy on the quality of life in post-stroke patients. This study used quasi-experimental pre and post-test design without control group. The sample of this study was 25 post-stroke community dwelling adult, aged &gt; 25 years, and able to communicate. Respondents participated in doodle art therapy in four session. After the intervention, the quality of life was measured. Univariate statistics were tested to see the respondents’ characteristics and quality of life before and after treatment. The data were normally distributed using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. Thus differences in quality of life before and after treatment were analyzed using paired T-Test. After providing the intervention, cognitive function, level of independence and quality of life are tested again and see the difference. We use several tools including a MMSE and WH-QOL brief. Studies show that 87% of respondents are at risk of developing mild dementia, with a moderate quality of life of 60%. 73.5% of respondents were at mild to moderate levels of memory impairment based on MMSE. The quality of life scores was significant difference before and after therapy p value &lt;0.05). Doodle art therapy in nursing interventions is significantly effective for improving the quality of life in the elderly. Doodle art therapy activates the part of the brain that is impaired. The application of doodle art therapy interventions in groups involves group processes in environmental orientation abilities. Doodle art therapy can be a recommendation in efforts to prevent dementia.

Transits in Oncology: A Protocol Study for a Therapy-Educational Training Built-In Intervention

The study “Transits in oncology” has been perfected with the collaboration of the UOC of Oncological Mammary Surgery of the Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Senese Siena, specifically by Prof. Donato Casella. The study means to analyze the impact of art-therapy interventions aimed at minimizing psychological distress in women with a diagnosis of breast cancer/mammary carcinoma (anxiety/depression), hence improving their psychophysical wellbeing. To this end, the study employs the evaluation of specific psychological parameters with the purpose of monitoring anxiety and depression levels, while investigating a potential correlation between the anxiety and depression levels and other psychological variables, such as alexithymia. The mammary carcinoma diagnosis, to all effects, constitutes an actual “disorienting dilemma” for the woman: it leads to questioning one’s way of life, and their past and future choices; the upheaval is conducive to a reflective phase that upsets one’s “expectations of meaningfulness”. The art-therapy intervention has been elaborated in a protocol that underscores its transformative methodology qualities: it aims to act on the regenerative potential of the turmoil, for an elaboration of trauma that does not negate it or further it (the feeling that nothing will change and everything will go back to the way it was before), but rather disrupts it. The final goal is to promote new existential practices, generating positive change towards self-awareness, stimulating the activation of one’s latent resources by accessing one’s symbolic world and one’s imagination.

Art therapy as an adjuvant treatment for schizophrenia: A protocol for an updated systematic review and subgroup meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials following the PRISMA guidelines.

Background:The efficacy of art therapy as an adjuvant treatment for schizophrenia remains inconclusive, and variation in the effects of art therapy on schizophrenia by the type of schizophrenia, severity of schizophrenia, type of art therapy, follow-up duration, or different populations has never been systematically assessed. The objective of this study is to systematically evaluate the effects of art therapy on schizophrenia and to determine whether there are some potential influencing factors affecting the effects of art therapy.Methods:Seven online databases will be searched from their inception until June 30, 2022. All the relevant randomized clinical trials (RCTs) comparing art therapy plus standardized treatment versus standardized treatment alone for schizophrenia will be selected and assessed for inclusion. The Cochrane risk-of-bias tool will be used to evaluate the methodological quality of the included RCTs. Review Manager 5.4 will be used to analyze all the data obtained. Mental health symptoms are defined as the primary outcome, and the secondary outcomes include the Global Assessment of Functioning score, quality of life, functional remission, and the level of self-esteem. Subgroup analyses will be performed based on the type of schizophrenia, severity of schizophrenia, type of art therapy, follow-up duration, or different populations.Results:The results will be published in a peer-reviewed journal.Conclusions:This updated systematic review and subgroup meta-analysis will evaluate the effects of art therapy as adjunctive treatment to standardized treatment in patients with schizophrenia and determine whether there are some potential confounding variables affecting the effects of art therapy on the outcomes of schizophrenia patients, thus strengthening the evidence base for the clinical application of this combination therapy for schizophrenia.

Art Therapy in The Arab World

Art therapy helps individuals explore their inner world, conflicts, strength, and experiences. It promotes human growth, development, and healing. While art therapy utilizes nonverbal expression as a means of communication, which benefits individuals from traditional and collectivistic societies, it is still novel in the Arab world. This paper aims to review art therapy and its implementation in the Arab world. A scoping review explored the implementation of visual art therapy, specifically in Arab countries. We identified relevant studies from different databases and general Internet searches. The data (n = 27 papers) were summarized and reported following data charting and extraction. Art therapy in the Arab world is present in various disciplines in general psychological support, mainly for trauma-informed interventions. In the 27 studies reviewed, participants reported feeling safe in the sessions, and art was described as a productive way to unmask emotions without violating their sociocultural needs. Art therapy was well accepted and may provide an alternative means of emotion processing. In conducting art therapy interventions with individuals from Arab societies, art therapists may encounter complex cultural, religious, and political issues. Cultural sensitivity and humility should be used to take this into consideration. Art therapists can learn from the above findings to adapt their interventions to the Arab culture and possible with other traditional and collectivistic individuals.

Art therapy utilizing smartphones as a therapeutic stimulus to promote self-expression

This study’s aim was to empower South Korean adolescent girls to explore their creative potential and emotional world by implementing a six-session art intervention with a smartphone stimulus in a therapeutic setting. Within a culture of high expectations for academic achievement, adolescents can experience varying degrees of stress and anxiety, which can contribute to a range of emotional and behavioral problems. Thirty-three Korean adolescent girls received an art therapy intervention with the following components: (a) leveraging the smartphone as a motivational stimulus, (b) introducing response art as an opportunity to elaborate on smartphone imagery, and (c) inviting participants to dialogue with their art. Engagement in these activities was measured quantitatively along three dimensions, motivation, response art, and dialogue, through a researcher-developed instrument, the Participants Engagement Scale. Paired t tests comparing mean scores from the first to final session showed participants’ engagement significantly increased along all three dimensions (p = 0.0001), supporting the hypotheses. Qualitative data in the form of process notations were analyzed thematically to provide context and further insight into the efficacy of the intervention. The findings demonstrate that Korean adolescent girls respond positively to a therapeutic environment that respects their culture and in which they feel safe enough to share their stories in an exploratory or playful manner via their own creative expressions.

Development of the Expressive Therapies Continuum: The Lifework of Vija B. Lusebrink, PhD, ATR-BC, HLM

This Viewpoint essay serves three purposes: (1) revealing the life experiences of Vija Lusebrink that shaped what would become the pantheoretical art therapy assessment and treatment model known as the Expressive Therapies Continuum; (2) clarifying the broad and deep scope of this model; and (3) encouraging the art therapy audience to recognize this model as a complex marriage of information processing and agents of change. The Expressive Therapies Continuum (ETC) lends itself to outcome-informed treatment in art therapy as a systems-oriented means of gauging client responses to multidimensional interventive inputs and modifying the therapist’s approach accordingly. It is important for art therapists to share a unified understanding of the ETC that is consistent with the ideas of its co-creators.

Cross-cultural art therapy in the virtual realm: reimagining cultural proficiency in Kenya

ABSTRACT Background This article describes a remote psychosocial art therapy group for educators in Kenya, led by a Barbadian and an American art therapist, and explores cross-cultural considerations. Context Intervention took place in Kibera, Kenya, an economically disadvantaged urban area, in 2020–2021. Group participants explored experiences of trauma and loss, as illustrated in art therapy case examples, and psychoeducation was provided on arts-based, trauma-informed interventions for children. Approach Group goals were developed in conjunction with the hosting Kenyan NGOs. Outcomes Ongoing adaptations and flexibility were needed due to cross-cultural challenges and the group’s remote status. The art therapists strove to ground themselves in a reflexive, self-aware stance. Conclusions Despite the group’s remote status and varied cultural dilemmas, flexibility and the centring of participant voices promoted group cohesion. Art-making and the group container enabled the expression of shared trauma, loss, faith, and resilience. Group members introduced their own arts traditions into the group, building resilience and taking leadership. Implications for research Cross-cultural art therapy interventions hold promise if group participants are given the space to lead and set their own goals. Future studies should continue to identify challenges that arise in cross-cultural art therapy settings while also examining the long-term effects and efficacy of these interventions. Plain-language summary This article describes a remote art therapy project led in Kenya by a Barbadian and an American art therapist. It was hosted by two Kenyan NGOs, and was implemented by the Red Pencil, an international humanitarian organisation. Through the lens of this experience, the authors explore cross-cultural, remote art therapy practice, and its essential grounding in cultural competence, cultural humility, and the consideration of cross-cultural power dynamics. They share their experiences of implementing a remote art therapy group in Kibera, Kenya, a disadvantaged urban area, with Kenyan educators during the COVID-19 pandemic, and describe their aims to provide psychosocial support while maintaining an ethically informed, collaborative stance that centred participant voices. Flexibility and creativity were paramount to combat technical difficulties and limitations of the virtual space. Group cohesion and safety were fostered as participants adaptively initiated practices of healing and socialisation that were rooted in their own cultural traditions. Art therapy assisted in promoting expression and solidarity, as illustrated in case examples, for group members facing trauma, loss, and strains of the pandemic. Recommended future research includes the ongoing identification of challenges that arise in cross-cultural art therapy settings, and the examination of the long-term effects and efficacy of these interventions.

The Effect of the Art Therapy Interventions on Depression Symptoms Among Older Adults: A Meta-analysis of Controlled Clinical Trials.

To our knowledge, no systematic reviews and meta-analyses have yet been published that examine the effect of art therapy (AT) interventions on depression symptoms among older adults, and this study aimed to systematically review and meta-analysis of clinical trials, summarize eligible relevant studies and provide a true effect measure for the association between AT and depression symptoms in older adults. The databases of PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched until 15 February 2022. The methodological quality of the included studies was evaluated by the Delphi checklist. The heterogeneity across studies was conducted by chi-squared test and measured its quantity by the I2 statistic. We performed this meta-analysis to obtain a summary measure of the mean difference in depression scores between AT and control groups using a random-effects model. All statistical analyses were carried out at a significance level of .05 using Stata software, version 14. Until 15 February 2022, 222 studies through databases and 199 studies through review of references were included in the present meta-analysis. In total, the analysis covered 8 studies. The difference in mean depression score between the intervention and control groups showed significant reductions in the AT group (MD -.78; 95% CI: -1.17, -.38; I 2 = 67.9%). Our findings suggest that AT can be considered an effective intervention for reducing depression symptoms among older adults and art therapists/psychotherapists can use this method to reduce the symptoms of depression among older adults.

Art Therapy in Advanced Cancer. A Mapping Review of the Evidence.

The benefits of arts in improving well-being in end-of-life patients have been stated by the WHO. To inspire clinical practice and future research, we performed a mapping review of the current evidence on the effectiveness of art therapy interventions in stage III and IV cancer patients and their relatives. We identified 14 studies. Benefits reported by the authors were grouped as improved emotional and spiritual condition, symptom relief, perception of well-being, satisfaction, and helpfulness. As a body of evidence, notable limitations were observed: Only 1 study was a randomized controlled trial (RCT), and there was heterogeneity in the interventions and outcome measures. This mapping review highlights the evidence available on the effectiveness of art therapy in advanced cancer, which remains limited and presents specific challenges. It also provides a visual representation of the reported benefits, encouraging further and more rigorous investigation.

"Through the fire and flames, we carry on:" Art Therapy Small N Feasibility Study With Adult Burn Patients in an Acute Care Setting.

This study aimed to investigate the feasibility of facilitating four sessions of art therapy intervention with a primary focus on implementation and acceptability. The exploratory aim was on assessing the effect of art therapy on self-reported outcomes on anxiety and mood among five individuals (aged 18+ years) hospitalized for burn injuries and to understand their perceptions of engagement with art therapy. A convergent mixed-methods small N design was adopted wherein both quantitative and qualitative data are gathered and then integrated, and an individual served as his/her own control when assessed before and after art therapy. Anxiety was assessed using Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Anxiety short-form of the emotional distress bank, and mood was assessed using the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS). There was a statistically significant decrease in anxiety scores and negative mood scale. Positive mood scale scores tended to improve after art therapy though were not statistically significant. Thematic analysis of qualitative data indicates that art therapy improves 1) symptom management, 2) facilitates emotional expression and 3) insight, 4) brings out symbolic and metaphorical representations, and 5) allows tactile and sensory exploration of art media. This study demonstrated that art therapy can be successfully implemented with acute burn patients and can have promising psychosocial benefits. Further research in needed to determine the effectiveness of art therapy with more burn patients, in ways that is meaningful to the patients.

Brief, structured, group art therapy for women with breast and/or gynaecological cancer

ABSTRACT Background This paper describes a structured group approach for women vulnerable to psychological distress following treatment for breast and/or gynaecological cancer. Aims Set in Hong Kong, the aim was to develop and pilot a brief art therapy intervention sensitive to local concerns and the specific needs of service-users. Methods A mixed methods study was developed and piloted in two phases over six-years in collaboration with female service-users recovering from breast and/or gynaecological cancer treatment. Key therapeutic goals and core themes were identified in phase 1 leading to the piloting of a six-session structured intervention with six groups in phase 2. This was evaluated using qualitative and quantitative methods: through service-user feedback and reflections; informal feedback captured through the art therapy process; and pre and post assessment of emotional distress (Distress Thermometer) and mental wellness (C-SWEMWBS). Results A consistent six-session structure was developed addressing four therapeutic goals: stress release and relaxation; amelioration of psychological and emotional distress; exploration of self-image; promotion of self-acceptance and awareness. Six core themes relating to loss and readjustment were established through the art therapy process. Participants experienced statistically significant reductions in psychological distress and increased mental well-being. Conclusion A new brief, structured, group art therapy approach was developed for women recovering from breast and/or gynaecological cancer treatment. Implications for practice/policy/future research The study contributes to the evidence base for the efficacy of art therapy in psycho-oncology and highlights the importance of service-user involvement in the design of a tailored, culturally sensitive, intervention responsive to local concerns. Plain-language summary This paper describes a brief art therapy group approach for women in recovery from treatment for breast and/or gynaecological cancer who are finding it difficult to adjust to changes in their bodies and the way they see themselves in the world. The aim of the project was to explore the use of a participatory approach to develop and test a brief art therapy intervention designed to meet the specific needs of such women. The project took place in Hong Kong, in a community cancer service offering support with the emotional impact of a cancer diagnosis and treatment. The theme-based group model was developed in two phases over six years in collaboration with female participants, all of whom were over the age of eighteen and had received treatment for breast and/or gynaecological cancer in the previous two years. Four therapeutic goals were identified: relaxation, reduction of emotional distress; exploration of feelings about oneself in the world, and awareness and acceptance of various aspects of oneself and one’s situation. Common issues relating to feelings of loss and difficulties adjusting to bodily changes led to the further identification of six core themes. These were creatively explored through the art therapy process leading to the development of a consistent six-session structure. The themed group approach was evaluated through service-user feedback and reflections, informal feedback during the art therapy process, and established measurement tools for assessing emotional distress and mental wellness. Results suggest an overall reduction in emotional distress with improvements in mental wellbeing. This contributes to the evidence base for the efficacy of art therapy in cancer care. Positive outcomes also reflect the participants’ involvement in the design of a culturally sensitive intervention responsive to local needs.

Individualized Assessment and Therapeutic Intervention for Mental Health of American Postmodern Novelists.

Objective Therapeutic intervention can improve the overall level of mental health of American postmodern fiction writers by improving their social communication skills and overall well-being. This paper discusses the application of art therapy in the mental health education of American postmodern novel creators and proves that expressive art therapy intervention is effective in improving the mental health level of American postmodern novel creators. Method This article attempts to help American postmodernist novel creators understand their own mental health status by means of individualized assessment and therapeutic intervention and to analyze and discover their own potential mental health problems. The writers of postmodernist novels in the USA were measured and screened by means of scales and questionnaires, and the members who met the experimental intervention were divided into experimental group and control group, and the experimental group received a 30-day reception music therapy intervention. After the intervention, the data will be counted, and the quantitative and qualitative aspects will be analyzed to comprehensively evaluate the effect of the intervention. Results/Discussion. Receptive music therapy intervention has a significant effect in relieving the anxiety of American postmodernist novel creators and plays a positive role in helping American postmodernist novel creators better adapt to study life and build good emotional psychology and interpersonal relationships. Psychological counseling relies more on external forces to correct cognition and adjust psychology, while music therapy intervention, as a nonsemantic art, can arouse inner functions and mobilize the self-healing potential of American postmodern novel creators. Practice has proven that when the language intervention of traditional psychotherapy encounters resistance and silence, music as a special language plays a vital role. The nonlinguistic nature of music, through a mode of reproduction of sounds in nature, makes the beautiful and soothing melody stimulate a pleasant and peaceful psychological experience through human hearing.

The impact of art therapy on anxiety and hope in patients with gynecologic cancer undergoing chemotherapy

Clinical research investigating the benefits of art therapy in individuals undergoing cancer treatment is growing, yet study designs focusing on certain cancers such as gynecologic malignancies are lacking. This study aimed to assess the impact of art therapy interventions on both anxiety and hope in patients with gynecologic cancer patients. The study design was prospective and non-randomized. Eligible patients had a primary or recurrent gynecologic malignancy, and were scheduled to receive at least six cycles of chemotherapy over eighteen weeks. Patients completed State Hope and State Anxiety questionnaires before and after each of five art therapy interventions during chemotherapy. Eighteen patients completed the study. Both anxiety and hope significantly improved after each art therapy session except for one. In addition, both anxiety and hope significantly improved between visit 1 and visit 5: State Hope -Visit 1 vs. Visit 5 (35.3 ± 7.8 vs. 40.0 ± 7.2), p = 0.019, effect size = 0.63; State Anxiety -Visit 1 vs. Visit 5 (32.8 ± 9.3 vs. 27.8 ± 8.8), p = 0.038, effect size = −0.53. The results showed art-based interventions facilitated by a board-certified art therapist positively impacted two domains in the quality of life of gynecologic cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. The attitude of patients, namely, a willingness to accept art therapy, may influence the outcome of the interventions.