Evidence about art-based interventions for Indigenous people: a scoping review protocol.

INTRODUCTION: Indigenous people experience a unique set of health inequalities and social determinants that can negatively affect their physical health, mental health and wellness. This critical state of affairs is compounded by the limited availability of culturally appropriate care services and treatments for the different groups. In response, increasing numbers of studies are turning their focus to art-based interventions and how these might benefit Indigenous lives. The proposed scoping review aims to map this growing field of research. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This scoping review is based on the Arksey and O'Malley methodological framework and the subsequent enhancements proposed by Levac et al. Academic databases and grey literature sources will be searched to identify appropriate studies for inclusion. The search strategies of all databases were tested on 25 April 2024. This will be followed by a two-step screening process to be conducted by two researchers and consisting of (1) a title and abstract review and (2) a full-text review. Data from the selected studies will be extracted, collated and charted to summarise all relevant interventions, their outcomes and key findings. An Indigenous research partner will be hired as a consultant, and the research will be further informed by other stakeholders. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This study is the first step in a research programme involving working with Indigenous artists to codesign a pilot art-based intervention aimed at improving mental health and wellness among Indigenous people. The scoping review will identify the specific components in documented art-based interventions that have proven beneficial to this group. Since it will draw exclusively on data from published and public sources, no ethics approval is required. The results will be disseminated through knowledge translation activities with Indigenous organisations and art therapy groups; a summary of the results will also be distributed through Indigenous networks.

Group arts therapies for patients with schizophrenia: a protocol of systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Schizophrenia, a chronic mental problem, significantly impacts cognition, emotion and social functioning. Conventional pharmacotherapy faces challenges including numerous side effects, low adherence to medication and substantial costs. In this context, group arts therapies (GATs) emerge as a promising complementary approach for symptom alleviation in schizophrenia patients. Nonetheless, the effectiveness and safety of GATs are yet to be firmly established. This study aims to systematically assess the therapeutic impact of all group-based artistic interventions as complementary treatments for schizophrenia, focusing on their potential benefits. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This study will search four English-language databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library and Embase), two Chinese databases (Wanfang Data and China National Knowledge Infrastructure) and three Korean databases (RISS, Korean Citation Index and DBpia) from their inception until October 2023. It will include all randomised controlled trials that compare GATs for schizophrenia with standard rehabilitation methods. The primary outcome is the improvement in patients' positive and negative symptoms. Methodologies such as bias risk assessment, data synthesis, sensitivity analysis and subgroup analysis will be implemented using Review Manager V.5.4. Study results with high heterogeneity will be merged using a random-effects model (I 2>50% or p<0.1). In cases where meta-analysis is not viable due to significant clinical and methodological heterogeneity, a qualitative summary of the findings will be provided. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The data used in this systematic review are anonymised, devoid of any private information, eliminating the requirement for ethical approval. Dissemination of the research findings will be conducted via peer-reviewed publications. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42023471583.

Does Mandala Art Therapy Improve Psychological Well-Being of Gynecological Cancer Patients During the Perioperative Period? A Quasi-Experimental Study.

BACKGROUND: Women with gynecological cancer often experience psychological distress, particularly in response to surgical procedures. The impact of mandala art therapy (MAT) during the perioperative period for gynecological cancer patients remains uncertain. We aimed to examine the effects of the MAT program in women with gynecological cancer. METHODS: Employing a quasi-experimental design, we recruited 126 gynecological cancer patients from a university hospital through convenience sampling. Participants were assigned to either receive the MAT program or standard perioperative care. The interventions comprised a three-session MAT program guided by a team of trained mandala psychologists. Generalized estimating equations (GEE) were employed to analyze the effects of MAT over time. RESULTS: A total of 126 patients were enrolled, and 118 completed the entire study. Over 90% of participants completed the perioperative MAT interventions, reporting relatively high satisfaction with the program (7.70 out of 10). Individuals in the MAT group exhibited improved therapeutic effects on STAI-S, VASS, and vital signs over time. Notably, significant group*time interaction effects were noted in STAI-S scores at both the first evaluation, T1 (ß = -4.220, P < .005) and the third evaluation, T3 (ß = -3.797, P < .05), and VASS scores at T1 (ß = -11.186, P < .005), T2 (ß = -9.915, P < .05) and T3 (ß = -9.831, P < .05). Regarding vital signs, the multivariate GEE model revealed significant interaction effects in systolic blood pressure values at both T1 (ß = -7.102, P < .05) and T3 (ß = -10.051, P < .005), diastolic blood pressure values at T3 (ß = -6.441, P < .005), and pulse values at T1 (ß = -6.085, P < .005). No significant differences were observed between groups for pain, hope, or self-acceptance. CONCLUSION: This study posited that MAT could serve as a valuable complementary approach in perioperative care for addressing the psychological needs of women with gynecological cancer. Subsequent research employing more robust methodologies and larger, more diverse participant samples will be necessary to validate these conclusions.

Knowledge and use of art therapy for mental health treatment among clinical psychologists.

BACKGROUND: Art therapy allows people to express feelings about any subject through creative work. It is beneficial for people who feel out of touch with their emotions. In Ghana, little is known about art therapy as a therapeutic tool. Herbal treatment, biomedical and faith healing practices are the most common treatment options for mental health. This research aimed to provide new insights into clinical psychologists on their knowledge and use of art therapy in treating clients and identified the enablers and barriers in this therapeutic intervention. METHOD: Twenty-one clinical psychologists were sampled using the snowball sampling method. They were interviewed over the phone using a semi-structured interview guide which was developed based on the predefined study objectives. Thematic analysis was employed to analyze the data resulting in three central thematic areas. RESULTS: Twelve of the clinical psychologists were females and eight were male, with an age range between twenty-five to fifty years. The major themes identified were knowledge of art therapy, the use of art therapy and enablers and barriers in using art therapy. The study revealed that clinical psychologists had limited knowledge of art therapy mainly due to lack of training. With the use of art therapy, the participants revealed that they had used some form of art therapy before and they perceived art therapy to be effective on their clients however, they demonstrated low confidence in using it. Practitioner training and the availability of art therapy-related resources were identified as both facilitators and hindrances to the use of art therapy. CONCLUSION: Clinical Psychologists are cognizant of art therapy albeit they have limited knowledge. Therefore, training in how to use art therapy and the availability of resources to facilitate art therapy can be provided for Clinical Psychologists by the Ghana Mental Health Authority.

Slow art plus: developing and piloting a single session art gallery-based intervention for mental health promotion via a mixed method waitlist randomized control trial.

Introduction: The current study builds on the expertise of National Gallery Singapore and Nanyang Technological University Singapore (NTU) in developing and piloting an enhanced version of the Slow Art program, namely "Slow Art Plus" for mental health promotion. Methods: A single-site, open-label, waitlist Randomized Control Trial (RCT) design comprising of a treatment group and waitlist control group was adopted (ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT05803226). Participants (N = 196) completed three online questionnaires at three timepoints: baseline [T1], immediately post-intervention/s baseline [T2], post-intervention follow-up/immediately post-intervention [T3]. Qualitative focus groups were conducted to evaluate program acceptability. Results: A mixed model ANOVA was performed to understand intervention effectiveness between the immediate intervention group and waitlist control group. The analyses revealed a significant interaction effect where intervention group participants reported an improvement in spiritual well-being (p = 0.001), describing their thoughts and experiences (p = 0.02), and nonreacting to inner experiences (p = 0.01) immediately after Slow Art Plus as compared to the control group. Additionally, one-way repeated measure ANOVAs were conducted for the intervention group to evaluate maintenance effects of the intervention. The analyses indicated significant improvements in perceived stress (p < 0.001), mindfulness (p < 0.001) as well as multiple mindfulness subscales, active engagement with the world (p = 0.003), and self-compassion (p = 0.02) 1 day after the completion of Slow Art Plus. Results from framework analysis of focus group data revealed a total of two themes (1: Experiences of Slow Art Plus, 2: Insights to Effective Implementation) and six subthemes (1a: Peaceful relaxation, 1b: Self-Compassion, 1c: Widened Perspective, 2a: Valuable Components, 2b: Execution Requisites, 2c: Suggested Enhancements), providing valuable insights to the overall experience and implementation of the intervention. Discussion: Slow Art Plus represents a unique approach, offering a standardized, multimodal, single-session program that integrates mindfulness and self-compassion practices, as well as reflective and creative expressions with Southeast Asian art. It demonstrates potential in meeting the mental health needs of a wide range of individuals and could be readily incorporated into social prescribing initiatives for diverse populations.

Coproduced, arts interventions for nurturing care (0-5 years) in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs): a realist review.

OBJECTIVES: Community-based arts interventions have the potential to support contextually relevant nurturing care programmes and policies that adapt to different settings. Understanding the distinctive features of using the arts in local, culturally specific ways in low/middle-income countries (LMICs); how this varies by context; and gaining a better understanding of the perspectives on desirable outcomes for communities is important evidence that this review generates. DESIGN: We conducted a realist review of papers that covered outcomes related to child health or development (0-5 years) AND arts-based approaches AND community-based, participatory approaches AND based in LMICs using a range of databases and other networks. A coding framework was developed covering context, intervention, outcomes, mechanisms, study, sustainability, transferability and scalability. RESULTS: The included papers reported 18 unique interventions. Interventions covered 14 countries, with evidence lacking for South America, Arab countries and parts of Africa. Lead authors came from mostly clinical science-based disciplines and from institutions in a different country to the country/countries studied. Intended outcomes from interventions included clinical, health systems/organisation, changes in practices/behaviours/knowledge/attitudes, and wider social and educational goals. We identified three demi-regularities (semi-predictable patterns or pathways of programme functioning): participatory design based on valuing different sources of expertise; dynamic adaptation of intervention to context; and community participation in arts-based approaches. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that arts-based, nurturing care interventions have greater potential when they include local knowledge, embed into existing infrastructures and there is a clear plan for ongoing resourcing of the intervention. Studies with better documentation of the lessons learnt, regarding the intervention delivery process and the power dynamics involved, are needed to better understand what works, for whom and in which contexts.

The effect of clay therapy on hopelessness and depression levels in chronic stroke patients in addition to physical therapy.

BACKGROUND: Clay art therapy can be used as part of rehabilitation for chronic stroke patients. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to examine the effect of clay therapy on hopelessness and depression levels in chronic stroke patients who receive physical therapy and compare them to patients who only receive physical therapy. METHODS: This randomized controlled study was conducted between August 1st - September 28th, 2022 in Turkiye, with 60 patients who agreed to participate in the study and met the inclusion criteria, which were chronic stroke patients who received physical therapy. The patients were divided into two groups (30 in the experimental group, 30 in the control group) with the control group receiving only their routine physical therapy and rehabilitation (5 days a week, 40 sessions in total), while the experimental group received their routine physical therapy and rehabilitation program as well as clay therapy twice a week, 60 min per session, for 8 weeks. Demographic information of all the participants was recorded, and the Beck Depression Inventory and Beck Hopelessness Scale were administered before and after treatment. RESULTS: The patients' depression posttest scores (t(58) = -11.386; p = 0.000 < 0,05), and hopelessness posttest scores (t(58) = -10.247; p = 0.000 < 0,05) differed significantly based on their groups. The control group's depression posttest scores (x¯ =25,033) and hopelessness posttest scores (x¯ =15,000) were higher than the experimental group's depression posttest scores (x¯ =9,067) and hopelessness posttest scores (x¯ =8,000). The control group's feeling about the future posttest scores (x¯ =2,967) were higher than the experimental group's posttest scores (x¯ =0,967). The control group's loss of motivation posttest scores (x¯ =6,400) were higher than the experimental group's posttest scores (x¯ =2,667). CONCLUSION: It was seen that clay therapy, in addition to physical therapy, was effective in reducing depression and hopelessness in chronic stroke patients.

A visual art intervention program for older people with stroke in residential care settings: A feasibility study.

INTRODUCTION: Stroke poses challenges to the physiological, psychosocial and spiritual well-being of affected individuals. As the impacts of stroke might not be reversible, a shift in focus to providing care is desirable. Visual art interventions using visual and symbolic art can help participants to express their feelings, give them a sense of choice and the feeling that they are retaining a sense of control, promote insights, restructure their sense of cognition and instil hope. There have been few studies on visual art interventions involving older people with stroke and none in residential care homes (RCHs). Theoretical support and rigorous research designs on the subject are lacking. Thus, this study seeks to address this research gap by examining the feasibility of a visual art intervention for older people in RCHs and exploring the impacts on their holistic well-being. METHODS: This was a single-blinded, two-arm, randomised controlled feasibility study grounded on Watson's Caring Theory. The Holistic Well-Being Scale and Caring Factor Survey were used in the study, with three assessment time-points: before the intervention (T1), at the mid-point of the intervention (T2) and immediately after the intervention (T3). RESULTS: Sixty-one older people with stroke were recruited from 14 RCHs and randomised into the intervention and control groups. The recruitment rate was 44.53%, and the retention rate for the intervention group was 93.55%. Implementing the programme was affordable (at approximately US$126/head), the duration was acceptable (721 min) and the feedback from participants and staff of the RCHs was positive. CONCLUSIONS: The visual art intervention programme proved to be clinically feasible. This study adds new insights to the development of visual art interventions and to the caring sciences. The efficacy of the programme on holistic well-being has yet to be confirmed.

As Much As I Can - Utilizing Immersive Theatre to Reduce HIV-Related Stigma and Discrimination Toward Black Sexual Minority Men.

BACKGROUND: Despite advances in biomedical HIV prevention modalities such as pre-exposure prophylaxis to prevent the transmission of HIV, racial/ethnic and sexual/gender minority populations are disproportionately impacted by HIV epidemic. Alarming rates of HIV have persisted among Black gay and bisexual men, particularly in Southern states. METHODS: Utilizing data from the ViiV ACCELERATE! initiative, we explored the impact of As Much As I Can, an immersive theatre production, on HIV-related stigma behaviors. A self-administered post-performance survey was conducted with a cohort (n = 322) of randomly selected audience members. RESULTS: Overall, the results showed participants had a highly favorable experience, rating the performance with a mean score of 9.77/10. Respondents indicated they intended to change behaviors to promote HIV prevention education and to reduce stigma and discrimination including: (1) Say something if I hear stigmatizing language against people living with HIV (75.4%), (2) Say something if I hear anti-gay language (69.7%) and (3) Tell others about HIV prevention options (e.g., PrEP, PEP, condoms (64.1%). The findings show there is an association between HIV-related behavior intention and linkage to HIV care. Respondents who reported they were more likely to say something about HIV stigma were almost three times (O.R. 2.77; 95% C.I. 0.98-7.8) more likely to indicate they would follow up with a healthcare professional. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that immersive theatre is an effective method for communicating HIV prevention education and reducing HIV-related structural stigma and discrimination that increases HIV vulnerability for Black sexual minority men.

"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.

O uso da arteterapia como prática integrativa e complementar em um centro de atenção psicossocial ­ álcool e drogas (caps ­ ad) / The use of art therapy as an integrative and complementary practice in a psychosocial care center - alcohol and drugs (caps - ad) / El uso de la arteterapia como práctica integradora y complementaria en un centro de atención psicosocial - alcohol y drogas (caps - ad)

Introdução: Até 1970 a assistência em saúde mental era realizada em manicômios, porém a reforma psiquiátrica veio beneficiar a assistência a esses pacientes, contribuindo para que profissionais evoluíssem para uma atenção holística e o cuidado biopsicossocial. Assim, surgiu o Centro de Assistência Psicossocial, especialmente o AD, que trata de crianças, adolescentes, adultos ou idosos com transtornos mentais e que são usuários de substâncias psicoativas, reinserindo-os ao meio social, por meio de oficinas terapêuticas instituídas para a redução de danos e, também, por meio de acolhimento, onde se realiza o Projeto Terapêutico Singular para diagnóstico situacional e inserção em atividades, especialmente em oficinas de arteterapia que contemplam as artes, trabalhando a dimensão física e psicológica. A arteterapia estimula todos os âmbitos pessoais, mostrando aos pacientes suas capacidades para traçar objetivos e gerar oportunidades. Oficinas estas, de cunho multidisciplinar. Objetivo: Identificar a percepção dos usuários de um Centro de Assistência Psicossocial AD e dos profissionais da saúde sobre a contribuição da arteterapia para a evolução dos pacientes. Material e Método: Estudo descritivo baseado em experiências de pacientes com transtornos mentais e usuários de substâncias psicoativas, realizado junto a terapeutas ocupacionais e enfermeiros. Resultado: Os usuários relatam satisfação com o centro de atendimento e a mudança de vida foi muito relatada nos depoimentos, mostrando como a existência desse tipo de serviço é importante para viabilizar perspectivas de vida. Conclusão: Os benefícios das oficinas de arteterapia são observados na vida diária dos pacientes e a importância e significado desta se amplia, agregando o acolhimento e a escuta ativa, ferramentas de trabalho essenciais para a reabilitação dos pacientes.

Introduction: Until 1970 mental health care was performed in asylums, but psychiatric reform came to benefit the care of these patients, contributing to the evolution of professionals to a holistic care and biopsychosocial care. Thus, the Center for Psychosocial Assistance, especially the AD, which deals with children, adolescents, adults or the elderly with mental disorders and who are users of psychoactive substances, reinserting them to the social environment, through therapeutic workshops instituted for harm reduction and also through reception, where the Singular Therapeutic Project is carried out for situational diagnosis and insertion in activities, especially in art therapy workshops that include the arts, working the physical and psychological dimension. Art therapy stimulates all personal areas, showing patients their ability to set goals and generate opportunities. These workshops, of a multidisciplinary nature. Objective: To identify the perception of users of a Psychosocial Assistance Center AD and health professionals on the contribution of art therapy to the evolution of patients. Material and Method: Descriptive study based on experiences of patients with mental disorders and users of psychoactive substances, performed with occupational therapists and nurses. Result: Users report satisfaction with the service center and the change of life was much reported in the testimonies, showing how the existence of this type of service is important to enable life perspectives. Conclusion: The benefits of art therapy workshops are observed in the daily life of patients and the importance and significance of this extends, adding the reception and active listening, essential work tools for the rehabilitation of patients.

Introducción: Hasta 1970 la atención en salud mental se brindaba en los asilos, pero la reforma psiquiátrica vino a beneficiar la atención de estos pacientes, ayudando a los profesionales a evolucionar hacia la atención holística y la atención biopsicosocial. Surgió así el Centro de Atención Psicosocial, en especial el AD, que atiende a niños, niñas, adolescentes, adultos o adultos mayores con trastornos mentales y usuarios de sustancias psicoactivas, reinsertándolos en el medio social, a través de talleres terapéuticos instituidos para reducir los daños y también a través de la acogida, donde se realiza el Proyecto Terapéutico Singular para el diagnóstico situacional y la inserción en actividades, especialmente en talleres de arteterapia que contemplan las artes, trabajando la dimensión física y psicológica. El arteterapia estimula todas las áreas personales, mostrando a los pacientes sus habilidades para establecer metas y generar oportunidades. Estos talleres tienen un carácter multidisciplinar. Objetivo: Identificar la percepción de los usuarios de un Centro de Asistencia Psicosocial de EA y profesionales de la salud sobre la contribución del arteterapia a la evolución de los pacientes. Material y Método: Estudio descriptivo basado en las experiencias de pacientes con trastornos mentales y usuarios de sustancias psicoactivas, realizado con terapeutas ocupacionales y enfermeras. Resultado: Los usuarios relatan satisfacción con el centro de atención y el cambio de vida fue relatado muchas veces en los testimonios, mostrando cómo la existencia de ese tipo de servicio es importante para viabilizar perspectivas de vida. Conclusión: Se observan los beneficios de los talleres de arteterapia en el cotidiano de los pacientes y se amplía la importancia y significado de esta, agregando la recepción y la escucha activa, herramientas de trabajo imprescindibles para la rehabilitación de los pacientes.

[Art therapy : Current developments in research and training]. / Kunsttherapie : Aktuelle Entwicklungen in Forschung und Ausbildung.

Art therapy is the intentional therapeutic use of the fine arts. Like music, dance, poetry and theater therapy, it is assigned to artistic therapy. This article provides an overview of general and recent developments as well as the state of the art in teaching in the discipline art therapy. Furthermore, two art therapeutic forms of intervention, the body outline image method (KUM) and Photo-Art-Therapy, are introduced. The aim is to further standardize the education and further training landscapes of art therapy, not least in order to further increase patient safety. This includes, for example, conveying systematically checked interventional measures and manuals that the students learn both theoretically and in the form of self-awareness. For about 10 years now, more and more high-impact quality research studies have been carried out Further evaluation studies in this field are desirable.

The Effects of Zentangle® on Affective Well-Being Among Adults: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.

IMPORTANCE: Zentangle® is a self-help art modality purported to have repetitive, mindful, and meditative qualities. It can be a cost-effective intervention, but its effect on affective well-being has been underresearched. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the immediate and 2-wk postintervention effects of Zentangle delivered by a certified Zentangle teacher on affective well-being in the general population. DESIGN: Two-armed parallel-groups pilot randomized controlled trial. PARTICIPANTS: Thirty-eight participants from a nonclinical population. INTERVENTION: Participants were randomized into the Zentangle group, which participated in a 2-hr Zentangle class and were encouraged to practice for 2 wk, or the waitlist control group. Participants learned basic Zentangle principles and drew two Zentangles under the teacher's instructions. OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: The Positive and Negative Affect Schedule, 21-item Depression Anxiety Stress Scale, and Self-Compassion Scale-Short Form were used to assess positive and negative affect; depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms; and self-compassion. RESULTS: Significant reductions in negative affect were found in the Zentangle group compared with the waitlist control group at both immediate and 2-wk postintervention assessments (ds = 1.04 and 0.79, respectively, p < .001). Participants who practiced Zentangle for >80 min per week had a significant reduction in anxiety symptoms and an improvement in self-compassion (ds = 0.84 and 0.24, ps < .05 and .005, respectively). No significant between-groups difference was found for other measures. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Our results shed light on the effects of Zentangle on improving affective well-being in the general population. With sufficient practice, Zentangle can also help improve self-compassion and reduce anxiety. What This Article Adds: The results of this study could provide information to determine whether Zentangle can be used as a tool in occupational therapy intervention to improve affective well-being.

The Practical Application of Oil Painting in the Treatment of Mental Illness.

With the rapid development of economy, politics, science, and technology and the improvement of living material level, people pay more attention to personal physical and mental development. The incidence of mental illness is on the rise. Psychological education curriculum learning and psychological counselling are based on communication; there are still many limitations. The art media enables patients to reveal their subconscious and potential emotional needs, so that interveners have the opportunity to explore these issues and build a bridge of communication with patients. In this paper, oil painting therapy of nonverbal communication is proposed as a way of psychological therapy. The patients in the psychological department of a hospital are served by six stages of therapy, each stage of treatment has different arrangements, and continuous service and treatment are adopted. Based on the art analysis principle of oil painting creation, the therapeutic experience obtained from oil painting creation and the experience gained from oil painting were divided into groups to compare the therapeutic effect and explore the role of oil painting art therapy. The results showed that the scores of the treatment group were significantly lower than those of the control group at 4 weeks and 6 weeks after the art therapy of oil painting creation, showing a significant downward trend overall. Oil painting art therapy may alleviate anxiety, providing data support for the application of oil painting art therapy in patients with depressive episodes.

Arts and Cultural Engagement, Reportedly Antisocial or Criminalized Behaviors, and Potential Mediators in Two Longitudinal Cohorts of Adolescents.

Arts and cultural engagement is a potential strategy for reducing or preventing reportedly antisocial or criminalized behaviors (those previously and problematically termed as "delinquent") in adolescence. However, most research to date has focused on arts-based interventions and has not tested arts and cultural engagement in large population-based longitudinal studies. This study investigated whether arts and cultural engagement reduced reportedly antisocial or criminalized behaviors in two large nationally representative cohorts, the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (n = 10,610; 50% female, 72% White, age range = 11-21 mean = 15.07) and the National Education Longitudinal Study of 1988 (n = 15,214; 50% female, 73% White, age range = 13-16 mean = 14.38). Structural equation modelling also allowed exploration of two potential mechanisms that might link arts and cultural engagement to reportedly antisocial or criminalized behaviors (self-control and attitudes towards these behaviors). More arts and cultural engagement was associated with fewer reportedly antisocial or criminalized behaviors, better self-control scores, and fewer positive perceptions of reportedly antisocial or criminalized behaviors concurrently and one to two years later. Arts and cultural engagement may provide opportunities for adolescents to realize positive developmental outcomes, reducing their risk of reportedly antisocial or criminalized behaviors.

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.

Building a Caring Arts Program with Oncology Patients: From Inception to Impact.

A Caring Arts Program (CAP) was inspired and carried out by the vision of an in-resident nurse-artist and the chief nursing officer in a private, not-for-profit health system. Together they envisioned a program that would impact family, patients, and staff while improving patient/family care practices. The impact of the CAP was evaluated through mixed methods which included stories, fieldnotes, comments, and the Listen360(R) which rates patient satisfaction scores. The synergy between the evaluations and the attempt to understand what creates patient satisfaction using creative arts was a prime objective of this article. The qualitative results represented by field notes and written patient comments revealed a positive impact on participants. The quantitative results demonstrated an improvement in patient satisfaction scores during the time of the project. The positive trend in the scores combined with the qualitative stories and interviews suggests that the CAP contributed to the improvement in patient satisfaction at Baptist MD Anderson Cancer Center. During a worldwide pandemic, supporting human caring and self-expression was more critical than ever.

Repeated use of rich pictures to explore changes in subjective experiences over time of patients with advanced cancer.

BACKGROUND: The combination of verbal and visual tools may help unravel the experiences of advanced cancer patients. However, most previous studies have focused on a specific symptom, at only one moment in time. We recently found that a specific visual tool, originating from systems thinking, that is, rich pictures (RPs), could provide a more comprehensive view of the experiences of patients with advanced cancer. AIMS: To examine whether the repeated use of RPs can make changes in subjective experiences of patients living with advanced cancer visible over time. METHODS AND RESULTS: We performed a prospective study with a generic qualitative approach that was mostly informed by the process of grounded theory. We invited patients to make an RP twice, at the start of the study, and again after 2 months. Both RP drawing sessions were directly followed by a semi-structured interview. Patients with all types of solid tumors, above the age of 18, and with a diagnosis of advanced, incurable cancer, were eligible. Eighteen patients participated and 15 patients were able to draw an RP twice. In eight RP-sets, considerable differences between the first and second RP were noticeable. Two patterns were distinguished: (1) a change (decline or improvement) in physical health (five patients), and/or (2) a change in the way patients related to cancer (three patients). CONCLUSION: RPs are a valuable qualitative research method that can be used to explore the experiences of patients with advanced cancer, not only at a single point in time but also over time.

Experience of the implementation of felt therapy classes (using of non-spun wool in the art therapy process) while working with the emotional state of patients of the FSBSI "National Medical Research Center for Rehabilitation and Balneology".

ABSTRACT: The article describes some psychological peculiarities of the work with the emotional state of patients and one of the possible ways to correct it using art therapy - felt therapy, (the use of non-spun wool in an art therapy process). In the article are described the possibilities of this material and the effects of its use. The main tasks of the work are the formation of a conscious attitude to the disease, the recognition of the "secondary benefits" of having a "symptom", the actualization, awareness and replenishment of the spectrum of internal resources, the evolution of the ability to gain the access to them, as well as the integration, acceptance of the "symptom" and the suffering part of the personality, the acceptance of the diversity of one's own "I". The art therapeutic exercise described in the article also aims to reinforce a new positively colored creative experience, the formation of positive thinking. All of these helps the patient to feel a holistic personality, more harmonious and happy.

Understanding the impact of an intergenerational arts and health project: a study into the psychological well-being of participants, carers and artists.

OBJECTIVES: There is growing interest in arts practices in relation to public health, including their potential to support psychological well-being. This study sought to understand the impact of Hear and Now, an intergenerational arts and health project, upon indicators of psychological well-being among all groups involved: young people, older people with a diagnosis of dementia and their carers and partners and the project's artistic team. STUDY DESIGN: This was a descriptive exploratory qualitative study, using focus groups and observation as data collection methods. METHODS: Study participants were 65 people representing the four groups participating in the 2019 Hear and Now project: older adults living with a diagnosis of dementia, their carers and partners, young people and a team of professional artists and facilitators. Of these, 27 participated in one or more of seven focus groups. Participants were asked about their previous engagement with music and dance, thoughts about the intergenerational element of the project and other aspects of their experiences that related to indicators of well-being. In order to investigate the project's impact on participants' well-being, Seligman's PERMA model was adopted, which sets out five indicators of well-being: positive emotions, engagement, positive relationships, meaning and achievement/accomplishment. RESULTS: Experiences relating to all five areas of the PERMA model were evidenced by all groups in relation to their involvement in the project. Additional health benefits were also cited by some, as well as enhanced perceptions of other members of the project cohort. CONCLUSIONS: The findings support existing literature that intergenerational and arts activities can be beneficial for individuals' psychological health. Experiences relating to all five dimensions of the PERMA model of well-being (positive emotion, engagement, positive relationships, meaning, achievement/accomplishment) were cited by the four participant groups, which suggests examining the impact of such projects on all project collaborators is worthy of further study. Understanding the impact these projects can have on the various groups involved will enable artistic and healthcare communities to better collaborate and value each other's practices.