Mindfulness-based Art Therapy Research Articles

Effects of Zentangle on Older Adults’ Anxiety, Happiness, and Dexterity

ABSTRACT During the COVID-19 pandemics, supporting older adults living in nursing homes to engage in meaningful experiences was challenged. This study aimed to investigate the changes in anxiety, happiness, manual dexterity, and enjoyment for adults aged 72–100 after an eight-week Zentangle mindfulness-based art therapy course. The course was conducted in a regional Australian nursing home during COVID-19 visitation restrictions. Twenty participants assigned to either an experimental or control group completed the study. Experimental participants attended Zentangle sessions which incorporated instructor-led drawing and mindfulness techniques. A randomized block design was used with quantitative pre and post-assessments of anxiety, happiness, and fine motor skills, as well as demographic cognitive screening at enrollment. Attrition and session data were collected to monitor participants’ engagement and enjoyment of the course and any disruptions. Experimental participants showed significant reduction in anxiety (−7%) and increase in happiness (+26%), with 71% percent reporting they would continue attending or recommend it. A potential protective effect in manual dexterity was observed. Participants experiencing mild to moderate cognitive changes reported the most enjoyment of the course. Results suggest that Zentangle could be offered as pleasurable activity and a non-pharmacological addition to anxiety treatment.

Migreni Olan Hastalarda Bilinçli Farkındalık Temelli Sanat Terapisinin Psikolojik Belirtiler ve Mutluluk Düzeylerine Etkisi: Bir Pilot Çalışma

AbstractThe aim of this study was to examine the impact of the Mindfulness-Based Art Therapy Program on the depression, anxiety and stress symptoms, and happiness of participants. This study is a quasi-experimental research with a pretest-posttest design. The independent variable of the study was the Mindfulness-Based Art Therapy Program, which was applied to the study group between the pretest and posttest. The dependent variables of the study were the depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms and happiness of the individuals included in the study group. The study group consisted of a total of 10 participants (8 females and 2 males) between the ages of 24 and 46, who met the inclusion criteria. The Depression-Anxiety-Stress Scale (DASS-21) and the Oxford Happiness Scale Short Form (OHS-SF) were applied to the participants both at the beginning of the study and at the end of 8 weeks. A total of 8 sessions of the Mindfulness-Based Art Therapy Program were applied to the study group. Each session lasted 180 min. The Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test was used to analyze the data obtained to evaluate the effectiveness of the program. The analyses showed that the Mindfulness-Based Art Therapy Program was effective in reducing the depression and stress symptoms of the participants and increasing their happiness but was not effective in reducing their anxiety symptoms. In conclusion, although positive clinical findings were observed in this pilot study, more studies are needed to confirm these findings about the Mindfulness-Based Art Therapy Program as an alternative treatment method for patients with migraine.

Work of HeArt: Addressing Educator Compassion Fatigue with Art Therapy

ABSTRACT Kindergarten through 12th grade (K-12) educators across the country are experiencing compassion fatigue from extended amounts of time with children reporting adverse childhood experiences. Additional stress from teaching through the COVID-19 pandemic has also led to burnout in United States’ educators, compounding the effects of both phenomena. An impending educator shortage may occur if the mental health of educators is not addressed. A series of mindfulness-based art therapy workshops designed to address compassion fatigue were implemented at an elementary school in a large Midwestern city. Thirty-four kindergarten and first-grade educators participated in eight monthly workshops over the course of one academic year. Workshops were designed based on a needs assessment completed by the educators. Results of the post-workshop questionnaire suggested that mindfulness-based art therapy was beneficial in addressing compassion fatigue. Five overarching themes about the program were identified from the questionnaires. Participants indicated that 1) allowing space for creativity, 2) learning creative ways to manage stress, 3) having opportunities for social connections, 4) discovering useful tools to express themselves, and 5) having dedicated time for themselves were all benefits reaped from the workshops. Participants overwhelmingly (93%) agreed that the workshops helped address compassion fatigue.

The effectivity of mindfulness-based art therapy application-based artificial intelligence on the mental health of pregnant women

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has become a new stressor with significant pregnancy consequences, limiting access to health services. Mindfulness-Based Art Therapy (MBAT) has been proven to intervene in the body-mind-soul and improve mental health problems. However, no research has developed it into a form of artificial intelligence for use by pregnant women in supporting the current situation of access to health services.Purpose: This study aims to produce a system of MBAT based on artificial intelligence for early detection and to prove the effectiveness of improving mental health in pregnant women.Methods: This study employed Research & Development consisting of 4 stages, namely Literature Study, Development Stage, Validity Expert, and Trial.Results: The MBAT application has five features, from mental health information to history. The validity score of the application system is 87.33%. The trial results showed that the application effectively reduces stress levels by 91.26% and anxiety by 90.24%. Also, the application can predict the percentage reduction in stress and anxiety levels correctly and without errors using the decision tree.Conclusion: This application is helpful for pregnant women and health workers in detecting stress and anxiety levels early in pregnancy and improving mental health.

Efficacy of a Single Session Mindfulness-based Art Therapy Doodle Intervention

The purpose of this study was to evaluate if a single session mindfulness-based art therapy doodle intervention may support and improve: (a) mindfulness, (b) mindful creativity, and (c) positive and negative emotional states. A general community sample of 71 adult participants engaged in the mindful doodling virtual two-hour workshops. Based on retrospective methods from participant self-reported perceptions before and after the workshop, there were statistically significant increases in ratings of mindfulness, mindful creativity, and positive emotions, as well as decreases in negative emotions (p < .05). The results suggested the potential efficacy and clinical benefit of this single session art therapy intervention for promoting mindfulness, creativity, and positivity in the community.

A qualitative inquiry comparing mindfulness-based art therapy, mindfulness and neutral clay tasks as a proactive mental health solution for college students

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine how college students perceive and manage stress and anxiety in the university setting and explain their perceptions of the effects of MBAT, NCT, and MO on stress, anxiety, and general student functioning. Participants: 58 undergraduate college students participated in post-test interviews following their engagement in either mindfulness-based art therapy (MBAT), a neutral clay task (NCT) or mindfulness only (MO) interventions using a 5-week online format. Methods: Magnitude coding was used to describe participant’s perspectives. Results: Many themes emerged including habitual creative practice, prioritizing time for the self, enjoyable/relaxing activity, learning new techniques, understanding of processing and developing self-insight. Themes in the NCT group were more surface level observations, whereas MBAT, and to a lesser extent, MO groups contained an element of deeper understanding and processing. Conclusions: These findings offer support for implementing online and accessible mental health strategies as a gateway to traditional therapies in college settings.

Effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions on depressive symptoms in people with coronary artery disease: a systematic review of randomized-controlled trials

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: None. Background It has been well established that the prevalence of depression is higher in people with cardiovascular disease (CVD), leading to a significantly worse prognosis after coronary syndromes. A recent individual patient data meta-analysis has shown that Mindfulness-Based Interventions (MBIs) such as Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) are not inferior to antidepressants in preventing depression relapse. A few reviews evaluated the effects of MBIs on mental health outcomes in CVD patients. However, none focused on coronary artery disease (CAD) and depression, nor did they include only randomised-controlled trials (RCTs). Purpose This review aims to evaluate the state of the present research on the effectiveness of MBIs on depression in patients with CAD. Methods This review was guided according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. Studies were included in the review if they were RCTs; all participants had CAD; trials studied MBIs as stand-alone interventions; assessed depressive symptoms and reported subscale results if using a multidimensional tool. A search was conducted on MEDLINE, PsycINFO and ProQuest Central between inception and April 2020. Search strings focused on three concepts of the review question: ‘mindfulness’, ‘depression’ and ‘coronary artery disease’. Data were extracted and risk of bias was assessed by using Cochrane Collaboration tools. Results Three RCTs involving 124 patients with CAD were included. Figure 1 summarises the inclusion process in a PRISMA flowchart. All of the studies showed a significant reduction of depression in the intervention group when compared with usual care controls. A detailed summary of the included studies can be found in Table 1. Regarding the interventions, although different in types, MBCT, Mindfulness-Based Art Therapy (MBAT) and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) had similar content and lasted at least eight weeks. All three studies had low risk of selection bias from random sequence generation, low risk of attrition bias and high risk of performance bias. Notwithstanding, it is worth noting that blinding participants and personnel was not feasible because of the nature of the program. Conclusions In conclusion, the present review offers initial evidence supporting the effectiveness of MBIs for reducing depressive symptoms in CAD patients. However, due to short-term follow-up, small sample sizes and methodological flaws, these findings need to be interpreted with caution. Future research should design more rigorous RCTs with powered sample sizes and longer-term assessments. Despite that, this review highlights a promising clinically meaningful intervention for this population, raising the question of which timing and setting it would be most beneficial. Further studies should test it to prevent post-MI depression in a cardiac rehabilitation setting or treat depression in a cardiac outpatient clinic.

Mindfulness based art therapy study protocol to determine efficacy in reducing college stress and anxiety

BackgroundCollege students in Generation Z are among the most stressed of our time. Previous research suggests that current interventions on university campuses are primarily for students in crises, but supportive services like psychoeducation to introduce coping skills are scant. Interventions that take both financial and time pressures into account are needed to address the mental health challenges faced by students. This study is designed to determine the unique role of the arts as a proactive mental health strategy for college students.MethodsA sample of college students in Generation Z (n = 120) will be recruited. Participants will be assigned to Arts-only, mindfulness-only, mindfulness-based art interventions or a non-intervention control group. These interventions will be delivered using a minimal contact, web-based approach. Participants will be screened for eligibility requirements prior to the inclusion in the Time 1 assessment though an online survey. Once enrolled, participants will complete the Time 1 assessment, followed by the intervention. Each assessment will consist of psychological and physiological measures. The MBAT, NCT and MO groups will complete a brief self-care task twice a week for 5 weeks. Upon completion of the assigned intervention, participants will complete a Time 2 assessment and participate in the Trier Social Stress Test. Six weeks post-intervention, participants will complete the final assessment to assess the longevity of effects of the intervention.DiscussionThis study will clarify the effects of Mindfulness-based Art Therapy on several biometric and physiological markers above and beyond isolated art therapy or mindfulness interventions. Qualitative data in the form of transcribed exit interviews will be analyzed to characterize the unique needs of Generation Z students, along with level of engagement, intervention acceptance and satisfaction. The results will identify the efficacy of a low-cost and easily accessible mental health intervention targeting college students experiencing stress and anxiety.Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04834765, 05/17/21. Retrospectively registered.

Online art therapy in elementary schools during COVID-19: results from a randomized cluster pilot and feasibility study and impact on mental health

BackgroundEmerging literature on the current COVID-19 crisis suggests that children may experience increased anxiety and depression as a result of the pandemic. To prevent such school and mental health-related problems, there is a timely need to develop preventive strategies and interventions to address potential negative impacts of COVID-19 on children’s mental health, especially in school settings. Results from previous child clinical research indicate that art-based therapies, including mindfulness-based art therapy, have shown promise to increase children’s well-being and reduce psychological distress.ObjectiveThe goal of the present pilot and feasibility study was to compare the impact of an emotion-based directed drawing intervention and a mandala drawing intervention, on mental health in elementary school children (N = 22), in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Both interventions were group-based and delivered online and remotely. A pilot study using a randomized cluster design was implemented to evaluate and compare both interventions in relation to child anxiety, depression, inattention and hyperactivity symptoms.ResultsAnalyses of covariance revealed a significant effect of the type of drawing intervention on levels of inattention, after controlling for baseline levels. Participants in the emotion-based directed drawing group showed lower inattention scores at post-test, when compared to participants in the mandala group. Post-hoc sensitivity analyses showed significant decreases in pre-to-post scores for levels of hyperactivity for the complete sample.ConclusionOverall, results from this pilot and feasibility study showed that both an emotion-based directed drawing intervention and a mandala drawing intervention may be beneficial to improve mental health in elementary school children, in the context of the current COVID-19 pandemic. From a feasibility standpoint, results indicate that the implementation of both interventions online and remotely, through a videoconference platform, is feasible and adequate in school-based settings. Further work incorporating larger sample sizes, longitudinal data and ensuring sufficient statistical power is warranted to evaluate the long-term impact of both interventions on children’s mental health.

Effect of Mindfulness-Based Art Therapy (MBAT) on Psychological Distress and Spiritual Wellbeing in Breast Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy.

Objectives:Psychological distress and spiritual well-being (SWB) are directly related to the quality of life in cancer patients. Mindfulness-Based Art Therapy (MBAT) integrates mindfulness practices with art therapy and has shown to decrease distress levels and improve SWB in women with breast cancer. The objective of the study was to identify the effects of a 1-week MBAT intervention on psychological distress and SWB in breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.Materials and Methods:This was a single group, pre-test post-test study carried out in a clinical setting. The psycho-oncology assessment questionnaire, Distress Thermometer (DT) and Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-SWB Scale 12 (FACIT-SP12) Version 4 were administered before, post1st supervised MBAT session and post 1 week of home practice to breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy (n = 30). The MBAT intervention included mindfulness meditation for 15 min and mindful coloring for 30 min daily for 1 week. Data analysis was done using R i386 4.0.3.Results:The median DT score significantly decreased from pre-session to immediate post-session and pre-session to post 1-week session. The median of meaning, peace, and faith subscales of FACIT SP12 scores along with total FACIT SP12 score significantly increased from pre-session to immediate post-session as well as from pre-session to post 1 week.Conclusion:One-week MBAT intervention for breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy significantly decreased the psychological distress and significantly improved the SWB in terms of meaning, peace, and faith.

Pilot Study of Videos to Deliver Mindfulness-Based Art Therapy for Adults With Multiple Sclerosis.

Mindfulness-based art therapy (MBAT) has been shown to provide a strategy for adults with multiple sclerosis (MS) to self-manage their symptoms. There is a need for the use of an MBAT intervention that can be delivered in any setting for adults with MS. The purpose of this pilot feasibility study was to test the feasibility and acceptability of an MBAT intervention delivered via videoconference. We developed an MBAT intervention to be delivered by videoconference to adults with MS recruited from an academic center registry. We also conducted phone interviews to collect acceptability data. Most of the participants (n = 5) were very positive about the MBAT video sessions and stated content as clear and easy to follow and understand. The time and delivering method were acceptable. Mindfulness-based art therapy sessions delivered through videoconference are acceptable and feasible for adults with MS.

A qualitative inquiry comparing mindfulness-based art therapy versus neutral clay tasks as a proactive mental health solution for college students

Objective College students experience unprecedented levels of stress and anxiety, impacting their desire to perform well and live a balanced life. Mindfulness-based practices along with art therapy techniques have been demonstrated to improve psychological and physiological impacts of stress and anxiety among college students. Participants: 12 undergraduate college students participated in pre and post-test interviews following their engagement in either mindfulness-based art therapy (MBAT) or a neutral clay task (NCT) using a 5-week online format. Methods: Descriptive phenomenology and artful inquiry were used to elicit participants’ perspectives. Results: Both MBAT and NCT elicited relaxing and calming effects, but MBAT provided more proactive and direct benefits, with participants reporting that they could identify and move through stressors. While NCT participants described their experience as fun or playful. Conclusions: These findings offer notable support for implementing online and accessible mental health strategies such as MBAT and NCT into college settings.

Therapeutic psychological and biological responses to mindfulness-based art therapy.

Stress and anxiety pose a threat to college students' academic performance as well as their long-term mental and physical health, but the time constraints of a rigorous academic schedule make it difficult to offer even brief mental health interventions. A convenience sample of full-time students at a public university was recruited for a 5-week study conducted mostly using an online platform. Participants were randomly assigned to a Mindfulness-Based Art Therapy (MBAT) intervention or a Neutral Clay Task (NCT). Anxiety, perceived stress, and salivary cortisol outcomes were measured. A total of n = 77 participants completed the study. The MBAT group experienced significant reductions in anxiety and perceived stress compared to the NCT group. Significant reductions in salivary cortisol were observed, but only time could be identified as a confounding variable. Art making alone is not enough to induce significant positive responses, but this study suggests MBAT can, and that an online intervention could offer feasible and accessible mental health services on college campuses. Further refinement of biological data collection and analysis is needed to determine what the mediating effects MBAT could have, if any, at the molecular level.

The Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Art Therapy (MBAT) on Healthy Lifestyle in Iranian Menopausal Women.

BackgroundThe purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of mindfulness-based art therapy (MBAT) in promoting life style in Iranian menopausal women.MethodsThis study was a quasi experimental study that was conducted on 104 menopausal women in Neyshabur,Iran 2018. One hundred and four menopausal women completed both the pre- and post-study measurements. The MBAT group demonstrated a significant decrease in symptoms of distress and significant improvements in key aspects of the health-related style of life (as measured by HPLPII questionnaire).ResultsThe MBAT interventions had a significant effect on improving lifestyle behaviors (p < 0.05). Among the dimensions of style of life, the highest mean score was for nutrition (35.14 ± 3.35), and the lowest score was achieved by the subdomains of physical activity (14.89 ± 3.55). The mean (standard deviation) scores of stress management, interpersonal relations and health responsibility were 21.54 ± 1.12, 26.00 ± 2.54 and 16.87 ± 4.10, respectively.ConclusionThis investigation of MBAT provides initial encouraging data that support a possible future role for the intervention as a psychosocial option for decrease in symptoms of distress menopausal women and improve lifestyle.

The effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions among cancer patients and survivors: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Cancer is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Cancer negatively affects individuals' quality of life and overall health. Mindfulness-based interventions appear to be promising in the reduction of cancer-related and treatment-related symptoms. This review aimed to systematically summarize and synthesize the best available evidence concerning the effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions on anxiety, depression, quality of life, fatigue, stress, posttraumatic growth, and mindfulness among adult cancer patients and survivors. A literature search was conducted across 10 electronic databases. Only randomized controlled trials were eligible. Two reviewers independently screened the studies, extracted data, and performed quality assessment using the Cochrane risk of bias assessment tool. Meta-analyses were conducted using review manager software, and standardized mean difference (SMD) was used to determine intervention effects. Subgroup analyses were performed for cancer type, gender, and interventions. Heterogeneity was examined using the Chi2 and I2 statistics. Twenty-nine studies were included with a total of 3476 participants. Those who received mindfulness-based interventions reported significantly lower anxiety, depression, fatigue, and stress and greater quality of life, posttraumatic growth, and mindfulness than respondents in control groups. Mindfulness-based art therapy (MBAT) produced the strongest intervention effect on anxiety (SMD = - 2.48) and depression (SMD = - 2.21), followed by mindfulness-based stress reduction program (MBSR) and mindfulness-based care recovery (MBCR). The interventions were effective across different cancer types. Mindfulness-based interventions can be used as an adjuvant therapy for the management of cancer-related symptoms among cancer patients and survivors.

Biobehavioral utility of mindfulness-based art therapy: Neurobiological underpinnings and mental health impacts.

Mindfulness-based art therapy (MBAT) combines mindfulness practices with art therapy to promote health, wellness, and adaptive responses to stress. Mindfulness-based stress reduction programs have been demonstrated to reduce anxiety symptoms in people with generalized anxiety disorder and serious medical conditions such as cancer. However, the benefits of MBAT specifically—not just in clinical anxiety disorders, but also for routine day-to-day anxiousness—have received little attention until recently. In this mini-review, we summarize how several established mindfulness-based interventions affect mental health with a specific focus on MBAT. We also describe and evaluate data indicating involvement of specific neural circuits and neuroendocrine markers of stress and/or anxiety. Lastly, we suggest areas of focus for future rigorous research on MBAT interventions and propose multiple biobehavioral and physiological mechanisms through which therapeutic benefits may be achieved.Impact statementRecent studies demonstrate the therapeutic potential of intensive MBAT and other mindfulness-based interventions for severe health conditions including cancer, heart disease, and anxiety, with effectiveness that rivals and sometimes even exceeds cognitive behavior therapy. MBAT-based approaches appear to be poised to mature into large-scale, cost-effective therapies for mental health disorders and symptoms comorbid with other serious health issues. However, the field currently suffers from inconsistent deployment protocols and needs additional validation data—at the behavioral, neuroendocrine, and neural levels—in order to establish best practices.

Examining the effect of mindfulness-based art therapy (MBAT) on stress and lifestyle of Iranian pregnant women

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of mindfulness-based art therapy (MBAT) in decreasing stress and improving on pregnant women’s life style in Neyshabur, Iran 2018. The participants of the present quasi-experimental study were 84 pregnant women. The findings showed that the MBAT group demonstrated a significant decrease in symptoms of distress and significant improvements in key aspects of the health-related style of life as measured by Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile-II questionnaire. Moreover, it was found that the MBAT intervention had a significant effect on improving lifestyle behaviours (p < .05). The highest mean score of lifestyle was for the sub-domain of nutrition (31.35 ± 5.34), while the lowest score was achieved by the sub-domains of physical activity (13.55 ± 1.89).The mean (SD) score of stress management was (19.12 ± 1.54). This investigation of MBAT provides initial encouraging data that support a possible future role for the intervention as a psychosocial option for decreasing symptoms of distress in pregnant women and improving their lifestyle.Impact statementWhat is already known on this subject? Mindfulness-based art therapy is a blend of basic meditation principles and art therapy. The results of this study showed that mindfulness-based art therapy (MBAT) could decrease the stress and improve lifestyle behaviours in pregnant women.What do the results of this study add? The results of the present study showed that mindfulness-based art therapy (MBAT) during pregnancy decreased the stress and improved life style. It is believed that changing lifestyle to include mind-body medicine such as MBAT in pregnant women will greatly reduce stress responses, and help protect pregnant women from disease during pregnancy.What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? The study showed the important role of mindfulness-based art therapy (MBAT) during pregnancy in reducing stress and improving life style.

Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Art Therapy on Healthy Quality of Life in Women with Breast Cancer

Objective:The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of mindfulness-based art therapy (MBAT) in promoting quality of life in Neyshabur women with breast cancer.Methods:This study was an interventional design that was conducted on 124 women with breast cancer (any stage) in Iran 2018. One hundred and fourteen women with breast cancer were paired by age and randomized to either 12-week MBAT intervention group or a wait-list-control group. One hundred and fourteen women with breast cancer completed both the pre-and post-study measurements. As compared to the control group, the MBAT group demonstrated a significant decrease in symptoms of distress and significant improvements in key aspects of the health-related quality of life (as measured by the World Health Organization Quality-of-Life - BREF questionnaire).Results:The MBAT interventions had a significant effect on improving quality of life behaviors (P < 0.05). Among the dimensions of quality of life, the highest mean score was for subpsychological (18.14 ± 2.35), and the lowest score was achieved by the subdomains of social relationships (13.54 ± 1.12). The mean (standard deviation) scores of physical health and environment were 17.19 ± 3.55 and 16.10 ± 1.87, respectively.Conclusions:This investigation of MBAT provides initial encouraging data that support a possible future role for the intervention as a psychosocial option for decrease in symptoms of women with breast cancer and quality of life.

A Pilot Study of a Mindfulness-Based Art Therapy Intervention in Outpatients With Cancer.

Patients with cancer frequently experience physical and psychological distress that can worsen their quality of life. We assessed the outcomes of an 8-week mindfulness-based art therapy (MBAT) intervention, Walkabout: Looking In, Looking Out, on symptoms, sleep quality, health-related quality of life, sense of coherence (SOC), and spirituality in outpatients with cancer. A 1-group, pre-post intervention design with repeated measures at baseline, week 4, and week 8. Despite a small pilot sample (n = 18), we found large effect sizes and statistically significant improvements from week 1 to week 8 in depression, the comprehensibility subscale of the SOC, and each subscale of spirituality, that is, peace, meaning, and faith. There were no significant changes in physical functioning, pain, sleep, tiredness, drowsiness, nausea, and appetite. The MBAT intervention, Walkabout, seems to meet key palliative care goals including improvement in emotional well-being, comprehensibility, and meaning making among outpatients with cancer.

Effects of Mindfulness-Based Art Therapy on Psychological Symptoms in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease.

BackgroundMindfulness-based art therapy (MBAT) induces emotional relaxation in coronary artery disease (CAD) patients, and is a treatment known to improve psychological stability. The objective of this study was to evaluate the treatment effects of MBAT for CAD patients.MethodsA total of 44 CAD patients were selected as participants, 21 patients belonged to a MBAT group, and 23 patients belonged to the control group. The patients in the MBAT group were given 12 sessions of treatments. To measure depression and anxiety, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Trait Anxiety Inventory (TAI) were used. Anger and anger expression were evaluated using the State Trait Anger Expression Inventory (STAXI). The treatment results were analyzed using two-way repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA).ResultsThe results showed that significant effects for groups, time, and interaction in the depression (interaction effect, [F(1,36) = 23.15, P < 0.001]; between groups, [F(1,36) = 5.73, P = 0.022]), trait anxiety (interaction effect, [F(1,36) = 13.23, P < 0.001]; between groups, [F(1,36) = 4.38, P = 0.043]), state anger (interaction effect, [F(1,36) = 5.60, P = 0.023]), trait anger (interaction effect, [F(1,36) = 6.93, P = 0.012]; within group, [F(1,36) = 4.73, P = 0.036]), anger control (interaction effect, [F(1,36) = 8.41, P = 0.006]; within group, [F(1,36) = 9.41, P = 0.004]), anger out (interaction effect, [F(1,36) = 6.88, P = 0.012]; within group, [F(1,36) = 13.17, P < 0.001]; between groups, [F(1,36) = 5.62, P = 0.023]), and anger in (interaction effect, [F(1,36) = 32.66, P < 0.001]; within group, [F(1,36) = 25.90, P < 0.001]; between groups, [F(1,36) = 12.44, P < 0.001]).ConclusionMBAT can be seen as an effective treatment method that improves CAD patients' psychological stability. Evaluation of treatment effects using program development and large-scale research for future clinical application is needed.