Scholarly record
ART THERAPY FOR DEPRESSION: A CASE STUDY
Abstract
Background: Everyone intuitively knows that art therapy works. Moreover, scientific literature recognized improvements with art therapy in depression. However, it is needed to provide evidence for the efficacy of art therapy and more standardized techniques in order to become an evidence-based treatment, both to confirm and increasing professional competence of the therapist, and enhancing the benefits of the patients with more prediction and control about the treatment. Methods: The Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory III (MCMI-III), Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II), and The Working Alliance Inventory (WAI) were used pre and post-treatment for assessment of depression and therapeutic alliance. The art therapeutic process was structured in 10 sessions. Every therapeutic session consisted of a two-phase treatment art creation and therapeutic intervention based on creative-expressive techniques such as drawing, collage, modeling, creative meditation and art genogram. Results: Art therapy decreased depressive symptomatology. Conclusions: The art therapeutic approach should be applicable for the most patients with depression and could be considered as a standard for clinical conceptualization and treatment in depression.
Publication Impact Profile
Publication details
References15
World Health Organization. Depression. (2018). Retrieved from http://www.who.int/en/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/depression
Zubala, A., MacIntyre, D. J., & Karkou, V. (2017). Evaluation of a brief art psychotherapy group for adults suffering from mild to moderate depression: Pilot pre, post and follow-up study. International Journal of Art Therapy, 22(3), 106–117.
Blomdahl, C., Gunnarsson, A. B., Guregård, S., & Björklund, A. (2013). A realist review of art therapy for clients with depression. The Arts in Psychotherapy, 40(3), 322–330.
Zubala, A., MacIntyre, D. J., & Karkou, V. (2014). Art psychotherapy practice with adults who suffer from depression in the UK: Qualitative findings from a depression-specific questionnaire. The Arts in Psychotherapy, 41(5), 563–569.
Oster, I., Svensk, A.-C., Magnusson, E., Thyme, K. E., Sjõdin, M., Aström, S., & Lindh, J. (2006). Art therapy improves coping resources: a randomized, controlled study among women with breast cancer. Palliative & Supportive Care, 4(1), 57–64.
Thyme, K. E., Sundin, E. C., Wiberg, B., Öster, I., Åström, S., & Lindh, J. (2009). Individual brief art therapy can be helpful for women with breast cancer: A randomized controlled clinical study. Palliative and Supportive Care, 7(01), 87.
Dag Körlin, Henrik Nybäck, Frances. (2000). Creative arts groups in psychiatric care Development and evaluation of a therapeutic alternative. Nordic Journal of Psychiatry, 54(5), 333–340.
Koch, S. C. (2017). Arts and health: Active factors and a theory framework of embodied aesthetics. The Arts in Psychotherapy, 54, 85–91.
Saulsman, L. M. (2011). Depression, Anxiety, and the MCMI–III: Construct Validity and Diagnostic Efficiency. Journal of Personality Assessment, 93(1), 76–83.
Craig, R. J. (1999). Overview and Current Status of the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory. Journal of Personality Assessment, 72(3), 390–406.
Storch, E. A., Roberti, J. W., & Roth, D. A. (2004). Factor structure, concurrent validity, and internal consistency of the beck depression inventory?second edition in a sample of college students. Depression and Anxiety, 19(3), 187–189.
Munder, T., Wilmers, F., Leonhart, R., Linster, H. W., & Barth, J. (2009). Working Alliance Inventory-Short Revised (WAI-SR): psychometric properties in outpatients and inpatients. Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy, n/a-n/a.
Mitrofan, I., & Petre, L. M. (2013). Artgenogram: the diagnosis and unifying trans-generational therapy. Bucureşti: SPER.
Mitrofan, I., & Petre, L. (2013). Art-genogram Effects on Dyadic Relationship Dynamic as a Unifying Transgenerational Psychotherapy Technique. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 78, 255–259.
Petre, L. M. (2013). Evolutionary Identity Typologies Symbolically and Creatively Projected within Art-genogram Patterns. Journal of Experiential Psychotherapy, 16(1).
View or Download full articleAccess options
SWS access login
Login as SWS Scientific CommitteeLogin as SWS Scientific PartnerLogin as SWS AuthorAuthors and approved SWS contributors will read and export their own linked papers after identity matching by SWS profile, email and SGEM GlobalID.
For librarian assistance: [email protected]
Purchase Instant Access
- Article can be downloaded after successful payment.
- Article may be used according to SWS library access terms.
- Article cannot be redistributed.
