The effects of art therapy on anxiety and depression in breast cancer patients: An updated meta-analysis

The Effect of Art on Premenstrual Syndrome Symptoms: A Randomized Controlled Study

Art-based interventions can serve as a complementary and alternative method in managing various illnesses. This study aimed to investigate the impact of art-based interventions on symptoms of Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS). This study was conducted between September and December 2022, involving 72 midwifery students with PMS (37 in the experimental group [EG] and 35 in the control group [CG]). Art-based interventions were applied to the EG weekly for 8 weeks, while the students in the CG continued with their usual coping habits. The data were collected using the Personal Information Form and the Premenstrual Syndrome Scale (PMSS). At the end of 8 weeks, both the EG and the CG were reassessed with the PMSS. The students who participated in the study were similar in terms of sociodemographic, obstetric, and medical characteristics ( P > .05). Analysis of the difference between pre- and posttest measurements revealed that the PMSS scores of the EG significantly decreased ( P = .000), whereas the PMSS scores of the CG did not improve ( P = .000). The findings of the study demonstrate that art-based interventions had a therapeutic effect on PMS symptoms.

The Effect of Walking on Depressive and Anxiety Symptoms: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background

Previous literature lacks summative information on the mental health benefits achieved from different forms of walking.

Objective

The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of different forms of walking in reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety.

Methods

This was a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the effects of walking on depressive and anxiety symptoms. MEDLINE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Embase, PsycINFO, Allied and Complementary Medicine Database (AMED), CINAHL, and Web of Science were searched on April 5, 2022. Two authors independently screened the studies and extracted the data. Random-effects meta-analysis was used to synthesize the data. Results were summarized as standardized mean differences (SMDs) with 95% CIs in forest plots. The risk of bias was assessed by using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool.

Results

This review included 75 RCTs with 8636 participants; 68 studies reported depressive symptoms, 39 reported anxiety symptoms, and 32 reported both as the outcomes. One study reported the results for adolescents and was not included in the meta-analysis. The pooled results for adults indicated that walking could significantly reduce depressive symptoms (RCTs: n=44; SMD -0.591, 95% CI -0.778 to -0.403; I2=84.8%; τ2=0.3008; P<.001) and anxiety symptoms (RCTs: n=26; SMD -0.446, 95% CI -0.628 to -0.265; I2=81.1%; τ2=0.1530; P<.001) when compared with the inactive controls. Walking could significantly reduce depressive or anxiety symptoms in most subgroups, including different walking frequency, duration, location (indoor or outdoor), and format (group or individual) subgroups (all P values were <.05). Adult participants who were depressed (RCTs: n=5; SMD -1.863, 95% CI -2.764 to -0.962; I2=86.4%; τ2=0.8929) and those who were not depressed (RCTs: n=39; SMD -0.442, 95% CI -0.604 to -0.280; I2=77.5%; τ2=0.1742) could benefit from walking effects on their depressive symptoms, and participants who were depressed could benefit more (P=.002). In addition, there was no significant difference between walking and active controls in reducing depressive symptoms (RCTs: n=17; SMD -0.126, 95% CI -0.343 to 0.092; I2=58%; τ2=0.1058; P=.26) and anxiety symptoms (14 RCTs, SMD -0.053, 95% CI -0.311 to 0.206, I2=67.7%, τ2=0.1421; P=.69).

Conclusions

Various forms of walking can be effective in reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety, and the effects of walking are comparable to active controls. Walking can be adopted as an evidence-based intervention for reducing depression and anxiety. More evidence on the effect of low-intensity walking is needed in the future.

The Effect of Art Therapy on Pain, Emesis, Anxiety, and Quality of Life in Operated Breast Cancer Patients: Randomized Control Trials

Background: Breast cancer symptoms related to the disease nature and treatments develop and the quality of life of patients is impacted. Art therapy improves the quality of life by increasing symptom control and treatment compliance. This study aimed to determine the effect of art therapy on pain, emesis, anxiety, and quality of life in operated breast cancer patients. Methods: This experimental research was carried out with a total of 60 patients, 30 in the intervention group (IG) and 30 in the control group (CG), who received treatment in the Oncology Center of Sivas Cumhuriyet University Practice and Research Hospital. A Personal Information Form, the Pain Intensity-Visual Analog Scale, the Rhodes Index of Nausea, Vomiting, and Retching, the Beck Anxiety Inventory, and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy Scale-General (FACT-G) were used to collect research data. Within the scope of the research, IG received chemotherapy sessions for 10 weeks (five sessions) with 2-week intervals by an art specialist in marbling, accompanied by ney music. CG received no intervention. The obtained data were uploaded to the SPSS (22.0) program and statistical analysis was performed. Results: The decrease in the pain, nausea-vomiting, and anxiety levels of the patients in IG and the increase in their quality of life after the art therapy accompanied by ney music were statistically significant compared with the first follow-up (p < 0.05). There was no statistically significant change in the quality of life of the patients in the CG, whereas their pain, nausea-vomiting, and anxiety scores increased. According to the comparison between IG and CG, there was a significant difference in favor of IG in terms of pain severity, quality of life, emesis, and anxiety levels (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The art of marbling with ney was effective in operated breast cancer patients experiencing pain, emesis, and anxiety and improved their quality of life. Clinical Trial Registration: NCT05666583.

The effects of art-making intervention on mind-body and quality of life in adults with cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis

PURPOSE

To investigate the effectiveness of art-making interventions on physical and psychological outcomes, as well as quality of life (QOL), in adult patients with cancer.

METHODS

Seven English-language databases (PubMed, Academic Search Premier, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, The Cochrane Library, and Web of Science) and three Chinese-language databases (CNKI, WanFang, and VIP) were searched up to and including May 1, 2023. We used the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool 2.0 and the Risk of Bias in Non-Randomized Studies-of Interventions to evaluate the certainty of evidence. The data were analyzed using Review Manager software 5.4. The study protocol was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42022321471).

RESULTS

The studies predominantly focused on visual art (n = 21), two specifically used performing art (n = 2), and five integrated both forms of art-making (n = 5). The pooled results showed that art-making significantly improved anxiety (SMD =  - 1.12, 95% CI [- 1.43, - 0.81], p < 0.01), depression (SMD =  - 0.91, 95% CI [- 1.16, - 0.65], p < 0.01), distress (SMD =  - 1.19, 95% CI [- 1.43, - 0.95], p < 0.01), psychological well-being (SMD = 0.41, 95% CI [0.02, 0.80], p = 0.04), societal well-being (SMD = 0.29, 95% CI [0.04, 0.54], p = 0.03), nausea (SMD =  - 1.81, 95% CI [- 2.84, - 0.78], p < 0.01), physical well-being (SMD = 0.11, 95% CI [0.02, 0.20], p = 0.02), and QOL (SMD = 0.81, 95% CI [0.29, 1.33], p < 0.01). However, it did not significantly improve fatigue (SMD =  - 0.28, 95% CI [- 0.75, 0.19], p = 0.24) and pain (SMD =  - 0.18, 95% CI [- 1.97, 1.60], p = 0.84) in patients with cancer.

CONCLUSIONS

Art-making interventions may boost psychological well-being, physical symptoms, and QOL among patients with cancer. More robust studies are necessary to overcome methodological limitations and promote wider adoption of these interventions.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Prospero registration number: CRD42022321471.