Creative Therapies Research Articles

Improving wellbeing for COVID-19 patients at Umm Salal Isolation and Recovery Facility through expressive drawing (Art Therapy): A Service/Quality Improvement Initiative

Background: COVID-19 has brought several patient challenges related to anxiety disorders impacting their wellbeing 1. According to Vaartio-Rajalin et al., 2, expressive art therapy (AT) has many advantages including mental health, physical, and social wellbeing. AT was introduced to COVID-19 patients on the 29th of May, 2021 as part of our Patient Wellbeing Programme launched at Umm Salal Isolation Facility (USIF) in Qatar. USIF provided patients with drawing tools to potentially promote health, social engagement, reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression, fatigue as well as addressing social detriments such as loneliness and isolation 1. Promoting group and individual identities was claimed advantageous when considering the multi-cultural and diverse patient groups housed in the facility 2. The study was initiated by the nursing team to evaluate the effectiveness of the AT activity on patients’ feelings of isolation, loneliness, and depression. Methods: This was a prospective cohort mixed-method study. Art materials were provided to establish patients’ engagement. Art stations were set up at the patients’ facility where multi-language instructions explaining the activity were made visible. The artwork was collected from voluntary participants (907) once a week and evaluated during the study period (13 weeks) which provided quantitative data. An existing general patient experience questionnaire (PEQ) was used to collate qualitative data to support the aim of the study. Data analysis was completed using Excel. Results: 907 artwork submissions were collected from a total population of 1,600 COVID-19 patients. The average rate of participation was 8% weekly, over 13 weeks (Figure 1). 150 PEQ's were received from 907 patients where 98% of respondents felt that AT supports patients’ wellbeing in a confined facility like USIF. Conclusion: AT has been shown to improve patients’ perceived well-being by reducing feelings of isolation, loneliness, and depression. Participation remained very moderate and ways of promoting more engagement and a higher uptake need to be found.

Effect of Dance Movement Therapy on Cancer-Related Fatigue in Breast Cancer Patients Undergoing Radiation Therapy: A Pre-post Intervention Study

IntroductionDance movement therapy (DMT) is a movement-based psychosocial intervention that incorporates the therapeutic components of dance movements and group psychotherapy. DMT, also known as creative movement therapy (CMT) is a psychotherapy used as a complementary therapy in cancer care. It helps in enhancing mood, emotions, self-expression and helps to rebuild self-confidence. Besides, it allows the patients to recognise their own strengths and weaknesses as well as helps to improve physical capabilities.MethodsBy simple random sampling method, 30 breast cancer patients were recruited at Pravara Rural Hospital, Loni, Maharashtra, India. The participants were in the age range of 30-60 years based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Pre-intervention scores of cancer-related fatigue (CRF) were taken using the Brief Fatigue Inventory (BFI) scale and intervention was given for 45 minutes each day for 5 days a week, over a span of 2 weeks. Thereafter, post-intervention assessment was done and the scores were noted. Pre-intervention and post-intervention scores were compared using paired t-test.ResultsThe mean and standard deviation (SD) of pre- and post-BFI scores derived by using paired t-test was 73.76 (8.6) and 69.33 (9.8), respectively, with a p-value of < 0.001, which is highly significant.ConclusionThe results of the present study revealed that DMT seems to be effective in reducing some amount of CRF in breast cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy. Besides, it turned out to be an engaging, entertaining and cost-effective approach. The investigation showed that DMT appears to be beneficial in reducing the side effects of radiation therapy such as pain, stress, anxiety and fear, giving a psychotherapeutic relief but did not completely remove the persistent fatigue experienced by the breast cancer patients. Thus, further investigation with long-term follow-up is recommended.

Pengembangan Model Layanan Pendidikan Creative Art Play Therapy bagi Anak Berkebutuhan Khusus

This study aims to design a model of creative art play therapy education services to overcome various basic problems in providing friendly services for children with special needs (ABK) at Azura Sejati Inklusif PAUD Lhokseumawe. This study uses the Research and Development Borg and Gall method. The subjects in this study were teachers at the Azura Sejati Inklusif PAUD Lhokseumawe. The data used are qualitative and quantitative data, with data collection techniques through observation, interviews, documentation, questionnaires, and Focus Group Discussions (FGD). The data analysis technique used descriptive statistical analysis and inferential statistics. The results showed that the creative art play therapy educational service model was effectively used to provide friendly services for children with special needs (ABK) in dealing with social problems and self-control. All creative art play processes (1) creative visualization can stimulate children's understanding and thought processes; (2) storytelling activities can develop moral and spiritual; (3) drama can improve social relations, hand puppets and masks have been used to protect themselves; (4) art to develop creativity and aesthetic experience; (5) music to communicate; (6) dance and movement to develop physical motor skills.

Effects of expressive art therapy on health status of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a community-based cluster randomized controlled trial.

Background and objective:This study was performed to investigate the effect of expressive art therapy (EAT) on the health status of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).Methods:This community-based cluster randomized controlled trial involved patients with COPD from 16 communities in China. Participants received either EAT plus usual care (UC) or UC only. General practitioners were trained in EAT before the intervention. The primary outcomes were depression and anxiety symptoms, measured with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and expressed as the HADS score for depression or anxiety (HADS-D or HADS-A, respectively). The secondary outcomes were the quality of life and dyspnoea, measured with the COPD assessment test (CAT). Dyspnoea was assessed using the modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) dyspnoea scale. Lung function was expressed as the forced expiratory volume in 1 s as a percentage of the predicted value [FEV1 (% pred)]. Outcome data were collected from all participants at baseline, 2 and 6 months.Results:In total, 360 participants with COPD and comorbid depression were included in the analysis with the control group of 181 receiving UC only and the intervention group of 179 receiving EAT plus UC. The EAT group showed significantly greater improvement in the HADS-D and HADS-A scores than the UC group at 2 months (p < 0.0001 and p < 0.001, respectively) and 6 months (p < 0.001 for both). The CAT and mMRC scores were significantly lower in the EAT group than in the UC group at 2 and 6 months (p < 0.001 for all). The FEV1 (% pred) was significantly higher in the EAT group than in the UC group at 6 months (p < 0.01).Conclusion:General practitioners can deliver EAT interventions. EAT can effectively reduce anxiety and depression symptoms and dyspnoea, improve quality of life and improve the pulmonary function of patients with COPD.

The Benefits of Music-, Dance/Movement-, and Art Therapy on Improving and Retrieving Cognition and Memory with People Suffering from Korsakoff Syndrome: A Case Vignette Report

This article reports about the beneficial effects of creative arts therapy on memory and cognition for patients with Korsakoff Syndrome, residing in a long term care facility specialized in the care of people with Korsakoff. Creative arts therapy is an umbrella term for healthcare professions who use the creative and expressive process of art-making to improve and enhance the psychological and social well-being of individuals of all ages and health conditions. It is a non-pharmaceutical intervention, using the power of the experience by doing rather than by speaking about the struggles in daily life. There is still little knowledge on how creative arts therapy may contribute to improving the quality of life of patients with Korsakoff, or reducing the impairments they suffer. In this article several case examples from the field of creative arts therapy, specifically music therapy, arts therapy and dance/movement-therapy, are described. These case examples portrait different persons with Kosakoff who benefit greatly from creative arts therapy while they are struggling with their physical and mental problems. Typical characteristics of persons suffering from Korsakoff are memory impairment, confabulation and problems with executive functions, caused by their chronic alcohol abuse which led to developing Korsakoff. The aim of this article is to provide greater insight into how to treat patients with Korsakoff through creative arts therapy. The different case vignettes, describing the authors lived experiences, give the reader insight in the real-world context in which creative arts therapy is practiced. By giving the patients a face and a voice and showing their artistic skills, we hope to break the stigma that is chasing them: the low-life-drunks who made a big mess of their life.

Does Creative Arts Therapy Improve Distressing Symptoms in Children with Cancer? A Synthesis of Extant Literature

Introduction: Children with cancer experience symptom distress which has been correlated with decreased quality of life (QOL). Creative arts therapy (CAT) encompasses the therapeutic use of creative arts which may improve QOL among children with cancer by affecting symptoms. Therefore, the research question was asked: Does CAT affect symptoms of pain, nausea, fatigue, anxiety, and mood in children with cancer? Methods: Based on the study question, a comprehensive literature search of PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Embase was completed. Inclusion criteria limited articles to specific symptom outcomes in two-group intervention studies in the English language. Selected articles were confirmed for inclusion by the study team, followed by group discussion to develop matrices with levels of evidence based on the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (Grade) guidelines. Results: Initial searches revealed 1,391 articles, screened to 44 for systematic review. Based on the inclusion criteria, 11 articles remained. Four studies had evidence levels graded as low, three were low to moderate, and four were moderate. Outcomes of mood and anxiety were measured in five studies, pain in four, fatigue in two, and nausea in one study. Discussion: Psychological outcomes were measured more commonly than physical outcomes. Evidence reached a moderate grade in four studies. Summary: Through this synthesis of intervention studies with CAT in children with cancer, improvement in distressing symptoms has potential, but the state of the science for symptom management with CAT could be strengthened for nurses to promote CAT to improve QOL among children with cancer.

Using innovative narrative therapies with children who witness intimate partner violence

Background: Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a form of abuse in which one partner causes physical, psychological, or sexual harm to the other, in the relationship. Exposure of children to this kind of domestic abuse is quite common in India, though not openly discussed. The management of children who present with functional somatic symptoms (suspected to be psychogenic in nature) is extremely challenging, especially since the history of IPV is not easily forthcoming. This case series highlights the evocative power of trauma-creative narrative interventions, such as poetry writing and story-telling, that help children express their fears and distress in a safe environment. This in conjunction with other modalities of management helps in their healing. Clinical Description: We present three children presenting with various functional somatic symptoms belonging to dysfunctional families. Comprehensive in-depth interviews, psychological assessment, and kinetic family drawings helped us assess each case, elicit the history of IPV, and understand the nature of the individualized fears and distress being experienced. Management and Outcome: The primary interventions used were creative narrative interventions such as asking the children to draw, write poems, and/or tell stories about their family and the situations they were experiencing. This helped them express their feelings of helplessness and latent anger arising from witnessing these violent events. Facing their fears in a safe environment resulted in successful resolution of somatic symptoms of all the three over time. This healing was reflected in the change in expressions via the art, poems, and written/oral narrations. Other strategies like provision of psychoeducation, highlighting the connection between symptoms and the underlying trauma, referral for marital counselling, and improving social support were also used. Conclusions: Pediatricians should have a high index of suspicion of the possibility of psychosomatic conditions when their patients display inexplicable manifestations that do not fit into any recognizable clinical phenotype, either by description or after investigation. These children and adolescents should be referred for a psychological evaluation and further eclectic management. The use of creative narrative therapies in conjunction with other modalities can lead to successful resolution of functional somatic symptoms.

An Investigation into Art Therapy Aided Health and Well-Being Research: A 75-Year Bibliometric Analysis.

Considering the physical, and psychological impacts and challenges brought about the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), art therapy (AT) provides opportunities to promote human health and well-being. There are few systematic analysis studies in the fields of AT, which can provide content and direction for the potential value and impact of AT. Therefore, this paper aims to critically analyze the published work in the field of AT from the perspective of promoting health and well-being, and provides insights into current research status, hotspots, limitations, and future development trends of AT. This paper adopts a mixed method of quantitative and qualitative analysis including bibliometric analysis and keyword co-occurrence analysis. The results indicate that: (1) the current studies on AT are mostly related to research and therapeutic methods, types of AT, research populations and diseases, and evaluation of therapeutic effect of AT. The research method of AT mainly adopts qualitative research, among which creative arts therapy and group AT are common types of AT, and its main research populations are children, veterans, and adolescents. AT-aided diseases are trauma, depression, psychosis, dementia, and cancer. In addition, the therapeutic methods are mainly related to psychotherapy, drama, music, and dance/movement. Further, computer systems are an important evaluation tool in the research of AT; (2) the future development trend of AT-aided health and well-being based on research hotspots, could be focused on children, schizophrenia, well-being, mental health, palliative care, veterans, and the elderly within the context of addressing COVID-19 challenges; and (3) future AT-aided health and well-being could pay more attention to innovate and integrate the therapeutic methods of behavior, movement, and technology, such as virtual reality and remote supervision.

River of Life in Islamic Creative Art Therapy to Increase Self-Disclosure of Adolescents Suspected Criminal Cases: Group Counseling

&lt;p class="08Bab"&gt;&lt;span&gt;The purpose of this research was to determine the application of River of Life Drawing in Islamic Creative Art Therapy to adolescents who were suspects in criminal cases in group counseling. The subjects in this study were carried out purposively by referring to the low self-disclosure criteria. This study uses a research design with qualitative analysis techniques with data collection through observation and interviews. The number of subjects is 25 teenagers who become 3 counseling groups. The implementation stage consists of 6 stages, there are: (a) engagement session, (2) drawing session, (c) river of life interpretation session, (d) exploration of islamic values, (e) clarification and goal setting and (f) reflection and evaluation. The results showed that the intervention in the form of River of Life drawing as a islamic creative art therapy had been carried out in accordance with the planned steps. In its implementation, the involvement stage of the three counseling groups takes longer. This is because teenagers are still closed, have difficulty in communicating and tend not to answer questions related to personal matters. Effect River of Life Drawing shows the effect of changes on adolescent self-disclosure. In the first group counseling, five of the seven indicators of self-disclosure have increased. In the second group counseling, all self-disclosure indicators have increased. Meanwhile, in the third group counseling, six of the seven self-disclosure indicators have increased. Suggestions for further research, the results of the study have different possibilities if the process of implementing River of Life Drawing as Islamic Art Therapy uses self-disclosure quitionnare to further review changes in adolescent self-disclosure.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

Crafting Life Stories in Photocollage: An Online Creative Art-Based Intervention for Older Adults.

Creative arts therapies (CAT) provide a safe and creative environment for older adults to process life experiences and maintain personal growth while aging. There is a growing need to make creative arts therapies more accessible to the aging population, as many have limited access to these services. This need has been catalyzed by the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic. Tele-CAT offers a possible solution. This study explored the experiences of older adults who participated in an online creative process of digital photocollage based on CAT. Twenty-four Italian and Israeli community-dwelling older adults aged 78 to 92 participated in this research through Zoom teleconferencing software. Transcriptions of the sessions and the art produced through the photocollage were qualitatively analyzed through Thematic Analysis. The findings show that the projective stimuli of digital photographs supported older adults’ narratives and engaged them in a more embodied emotional experience. Participant experiences involved artistic enjoyment within a positive and safe interaction with therapists. The creation of digital photocollages allowed the participants to process their life experiences and create an integrative view of their life, a vital developmental task in late life. These results point to the advantages and challenges of tele-CAT for older adults.

Creative Arts Therapies to Enhance Mental Health Over the Course of Aging: Research and Implications

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increase in ageist attitudes and psychological distress and loneliness among older people. The social isolation exacerbated the intergenerational segregation between young and older adults, and has also been expressed within families, since grandparents could not meet their grandchildren in person. The present study involved an intergenerational music intervention, as a vehicle to bridge the gap between grandparents and grandchildren at the COVID-19 pandemic. 41 grandparents aged 56-80, and 45 grandchildren aged 9.9-11.8 took part. Of these, 21 pairs of grandparents and grandchildren participated in a weekly online intergenerational zoom music therapy group for eight weeks, and the rest constituted a waitlist-controlled group. All participants completed the same questionnaires during the same time periods before and after the intervention. The results point to the effectiveness of participation in the sessions in improving intergenerational connections and psychological well-being, and in reducing ageist attitudes and loneliness.

Creative arts therapy in the United States school system: An integrative systematic review of empirically evaluated interventions from the past decade

AbstractRecently there has been an expansion of the literature on creative arts therapy (CAT) interventions in the United States (U.S.) school system. However, findings across studies in the field have yet to be systematically investigated on a national level. The present review is an integrative systematic review of empirically evaluated CAT intervention studies in U.S. schools from the past decade. This synthesis seeks to advance CATs in schools' evidence base and increase research and practice throughout the U.S. Three online databases were searched alongside a manual review of relevant journals. Inclusion criteria required studies to feature a CAT modality, implementation in a U.S. K‐12 school during the school day, and an empirical methodology. The systematic search yielded a total qualifying sample of six studies. General findings indicated that across studies, targeted improvement in psychosocial and behavioral domains was achieved, suggesting that CATs hold major promise due to their ecological responsiveness and versatility. Although the current scope of empirically evaluated CAT interventions in U.S. schools is minimal, findings suggest encouraging avenues for formulating a useful research trajectory and advancing practice. Further research recommendations for the promotion of CATs in schools are provided and situated within the school mental health literature.

THE USE OF COMPLEMENTARY THERAPIES IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS WITH CANCER : A LITERATURE REVIEW

Children and adolescents with cancer can experience unpleasant experiences, such as pain, anxiety, fatigue, sleep disturbances, balance disorders, and even mental, behavioral, and emotional disturbances. These negative experiences lead to decrease in quality of life. A recent research indicates that complement therapies can reduce the terrible effects of cancer. So this literature study aimed to identify the use of complementary therapies in children and adolescents with cancer. This study was a literature review that begins with a search for articles on digital databases, Science Direct and Google Scholar, using the keyword "complementary therapy AND cancer AND adolescents". The inclusion criteria in this study were articles published in 2010-2020, full text, research results, in English, and contained about the use of complementary therapies in children and adolescents (0-18 years) with cancer. Total of 12 articles were analyzed in this literature study. The results of this study showed there are four groups of complementary therapies for children and adolescents with cancer. Complementary and alternative medicine in general, cutaneous stimulation (massage therapy and acupressure), art therapy (group art therapy and creative art therapy), as well as body and mind therapy (eurythmy therapy and yoga), have both physiological and psychological effects. These four therapeutic groups can elicit physiological and psychological responses in children and adolescents with cancer. Patients can feel a reduction in the discomfort. Based on the results of this literature review, nurses and patients' families are expected to provide complementary therapies in the care of children and adolescents with cancer.

Brain-Computer Interfaces and Creative Expression: Interface Considerations for Rehabilitative and Therapeutic Interactions

By translating brain signals into new kinds of outputs, Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) systems hold tremendous potential as both transformative rehabilitation and communication tools. BCIs can be considered a unique technology, in that they are able to provide a direct link between the brain and the external environment. By affording users with opportunities for communication and self-expression, BCI systems serve as a bridge between abled-bodied and disabled users, in turn reducing existing barriers between these groups. This perspective piece explores the complex shifting relationship between neuroadaptive systems and humans by foregrounding personal experience and embodied interaction as concepts through which to evaluate digital environments cultivated through the design of BCI interfaces. To underscore the importance of fostering human-centered experiences through technologically mediated interactions, this work offers a conceptual framework through which the rehabilitative and therapeutic possibilities of BCI user-system engagement could be furthered. By inviting somatic analysis towards the design of BCI interfaces and incorporating tenets of creative arts therapies practices into hybrid navigation paradigms for self-expressive applications, this work highlights the need for examining individual technological interactions as sites with meaning-making potentiality, as well as those conceived through unique exchanges based on user-specific needs for communication. Designing BCI interfaces in ways that afford users with increased options for navigation, as well as with the ability to share subjective and collective experiences, helps to redefine existing boundaries of digital and physical user-system interactions and encourages the reimagining of these systems as novel digital health tools for recovery.

Parents' Perception of Family-Centered Music Therapy with Stable Preterm Infants.

Premature birth places considerable demands on preterm infants and their families. Most of these infants are treated on a neonatal intensive care unit immediately after birth, leading to psychosocial stress for parents and making it more difficult to build a stable parent-child bond. We hypothesized that accompaniment with live music therapy by a music therapist supports the parents to get in contact with their child and to promote the parents’ wellbeing. Preterm infants born at less than 32 gestational weeks received creative music therapy twice a week until discharge. At the time of discharge, the parents were asked to complete a Likert-style questionnaire to evaluate the music therapy. Six items related to socio-demographic characteristics, 4 items to observations on the infant and 10 items to personal perception. Of 40 preterm infants receiving music therapy, 32 (80%) parents completed the questionnaires. Thirty (94%) of these parents were able to relax during the music therapy session. Relaxation in their infants was observed by 29 (91%) during and by 28 (88%) after music therapy. Parents perceived music therapy as a positive change and enrichment during their infant’s hospital stay. All parents were thankful for the music therapy they received. Music therapy supports the parents of preterm infants in the first time after birth until discharge from the hospital.

Freeing us from pandemic alienation: Tea-based online expressive arts therapy

This article creatively presents a framework of conducting expressive arts therapy online during the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim is to help people tap into the four modes of being through multimodal arts to respond to the alienation in each of them due to the pandemic. Tea, which has similarities with watercolour but is more natural and easily accessible, serves as the core art material in the creative process. This article includes experience of the participants who voluntarily joined a one-off online workshop, giving a clearer picture of the therapeutic process and changes. The relevance of tea to the four modes of being is discussed, and the ways in which the framework can be implemented are explored.

Enhancing Maternal-Infant Attachment in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit During the Pandemic Prevention Period

Parent-infant attachment is affected by parent-infant interaction. The limitations on related visitations during the COVID-19 pandemic suspended the opportunity to engage in kangaroo care (skin-to-skin contact) activities. These changes impacted parent-infant attachment in the neonatal intensive care unit. After investigation, the score of premature infant-parent attachment was found to be only 64.6 points during the period in which visitation limitations were in effect. To enhance maternal-premature infant attachment during the pandemic period by 10% (from an average score of 64.6 to 71.1). This project involved nurses playing audio files provided by mothers to their premature infants, and recording a video and taking pictures of the infants during this process. This project used a cloud platform as bidirectional pipelines. Furthermore, emotional support and caring information were provided to the mothers via expressive arts therapy and phone interviews. After the intervention, the premature infant-parent attachment score rose to 74.4 from the pre-intervention score of 64.6. During pandemic control periods, traditional modes of care aimed at building infant-parent attachment are not applicable. The intervention project used was found to be an effective alternative approach to increasing maternal-premature infant attachment. Breaking the restrictions of time and place, this project applies family-centered care, and may provide a reference for developing software, hardware, and communication equipment for other care units related to newborns.

Building a Pediatric Creative Arts Therapy Program at an Academic Medical Center

Building a Pediatric Creative Arts Therapy Program at an Academic Medical Center

The heart of the matter: Arts-based reflections, writings and responses during COVID-19

This article will explore themes that emerged from writings and interviews with creative arts therapy colleagues from around the world during the COVID-19 pandemic. We conducted this research from March through October 2020. During this time, everything we thought we knew about our world shifted. People are living in a ‘liminal’ in-between threshold space from pre-pandemic times to the space of the moment, in between what was and will be. Issues we are living through are immediate and also existential as we negotiate local, national and global collective anxiety, trauma and survival. Artists are familiar with navigating and working in this type of liminal space. The creative process involves learning to stay with unknowns and ambiguity as part of the act of creation. This article shares thoughts and reflections with regard to being of service to others in this time of worldwide crisis.

A hospital’s collaborative arts in health approach to COVID-19

This note from the field outlines how an integrated arts in health department within a hospital created clinical and non-clinical art experiences for patients and providers during COVID-19. Working with a multi-disciplinary team, the Center for Performing Arts Medicine at Houston Methodist established creative arts therapy and arts integration programmes targeting patient and provider experiences during COVID-19. Emphasis is placed on how programmes respond to both physical health and emotional well-being through accessible, appropriate art experiences. This article outlines those strategies and highlights various entry points for arts experiences in a hospital experience during a pandemic.