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Research data- 01

  • Amrutha Reshi
  • Sep 26
  • 2 min read
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Art therapy, which encompasses various creative treatments like drawing, painting, music, and dance, is increasingly recognized for its role in mental health. Here’s what research and critical reviews highlight about its benefits and applications:Art therapy, which encompasses various creative treatments like drawing, painting, music, and dance, is increasingly recognized for its role in mental health. Here’s what research and critical reviews highlight about its benefits and applications:


The data below is derived from the research article titled: Role of Art Therapy in the Promotion of Mental Health: A Critical Review https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9472646/pdf/cureus-0014-00000028026.pdf


Research on Specific Mental Health Conditions


Studies have explored the contribution of art therapy in various mental disorders, including depression, dementia, schizophrenia, and psychosis.


Condition

Research Findings


Mood Disorders (Depression & Anxiety)

* A randomized controlled trial (RCT) found that introducing art therapy to patients with stable and pharmacologically treated major depressive disorder

improved depression and anxiety symptoms.



* For anxiety, art therapy was found to help with anxiety reduction by improving

emotion regulation, leading to better emotion acceptance and goal-oriented actions.


Schizophrenia

* A pilot study suggested that patients who received art therapy showed a significant average

decline in positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia compared to standard care, and had greater emotional awareness scores.



* Conversely, the large MATISSE trial (a three-arm RCT) found

no additional benefit in the global assessment of functioning or in positive and negative symptom scores.


Dementia

* Studies have investigated art therapy as a non-pharmacological treatment for Alzheimer's.




* As part of a multidisciplinary cognitive rehabilitation program, art therapy was one of the activities used, which resulted in an

improved quality of life for patients.



* Art therapy has been shown to

boost self-esteem for persons with dementia and may reduce caregiver burden.


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Broader Benefits and Use


  • Self-Esteem and Accomplishment: Creating art can help people increase their self-esteem by reinforcing feelings of self-worth and competence. It fosters a sense of self-sufficiency and the satisfaction of generating valued outcomes.



  • Stress Management: Participating in creative activities can help people cope with stress and despair and alleviate the burden of chronic mental illnesses.



  • Other Applications: Art therapy is also employed as a treatment modality for conditions like cancer, autism, HIV patients, COVID-19, and Parkinson's disease.




 
 
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