Art Therapy in the Digital World: An Integrative Review of Current Practice and Future Directions

Improving Mental Health and Well-Being Through the Paradym App: Quantitative Study of Real-World Data

BACKGROUND

With growing evidence suggesting that levels of emotional well-being have been decreasing globally over the past few years, demand for easily accessible, convenient, and affordable well-being and mental health support has increased. Although mental health apps designed to tackle this demand by targeting diagnosed conditions have been shown to be beneficial, less research has focused on apps aiming to improve emotional well-being. There is also a dearth of research on well-being apps structured around users' lived experiences and emotional patterns and a lack of integration of real-world evidence of app usage. Thus, the potential benefits of these apps need to be evaluated using robust real-world data.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to explore usage patterns and preliminary outcomes related to mental health and well-being among users of an app (Paradym; Paradym Ltd) designed to promote emotional well-being and positive mental health.

METHODS

This is a pre-post, single-arm evaluation of real-world data provided by users of the Paradym app. Data were provided as part of optional built-in self-assessments that users completed to test their levels of depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9), anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire-7), life satisfaction (Satisfaction With Life Scale), and overall well-being (World Health Organization-5 Well-Being Index) when they first started using the app and at regular intervals following initial usage. Usage patterns, including the number of assessments completed and the length of time between assessments, were recorded. Data were analyzed using within-subjects t tests, and Cohen d estimates were used to measure effect sizes.

RESULTS

A total of 3237 app users completed at least 1 self-assessment, and 787 users completed a follow-up assessment. The sample was diverse, with 2000 users (61.8%) being located outside of the United States. At baseline, many users reported experiencing strong feelings of burnout (677/1627, 41.6%), strong insecurities (73/211, 34.6%), and low levels of thriving (140/260, 53.8%). Users also experienced symptoms of depression (mean 9.85, SD 5.55) and anxiety (mean 14.27, SD 6.77) and reported low levels of life satisfaction (mean 12.14, SD 7.42) and general well-being (mean 9.88, SD 5.51). On average, users had been using the app for 74 days when they completed a follow-up assessment. Following app usage, small but significant improvements were reported across all outcomes of interest, with anxiety and depression scores improving by 1.20 and 1.26 points on average, respectively, and life satisfaction and well-being scores improving by 0.71 and 0.97 points, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

This real-world data analysis and evaluation provided positive preliminary evidence for the Paradym app's effectiveness in improving mental health and well-being, supporting its use as a scalable intervention for emotional well-being, with potential applications across diverse populations and settings, and encourages the use of built-in assessments in mental health app research.

Telehealth in arts therapies for neurodevelopmental and neurological disorders: a scoping review

Background

Arts therapies, encompassing art therapy, music therapy, drama therapy, and dance movement therapy with the broader practice of expressive arts therapies, have demonstrated positive outcomes in the treatment of neurodevelopmental and neurological disorders (NNDs). Integrating arts therapies into telehealth has become increasingly important to improve accessibility for people with mobility impairments or those living in remote areas. This study aims to map the existing body of literature to provide an in-depth overview of telehealth in arts therapies for individuals with NNDs.

Methodology

This scoping review followed the PRISMA guidelines. Six databases were systematically searched, with 2,888 articles screened for eligibility. Inclusion criteria focused on primary research peer-reviewed articles in English that addressed telehealth arts therapies for NNDs.

Results

Seventeen telehealth studies published between 2009 and March 2024 were included, with a notable increase in publications after 2020. The studies covered various neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism spectrum disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), Rett syndrome, and neurological disorders such as stroke, epilepsy, cerebral palsy, central nervous system (CNS) tumors, dementia, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, spinal cord injuries, and mild cognitive impairment. Music therapy was the most widely studied modality. Interventions ranged from therapeutic singing and songwriting to virtual reality experiences. Different platforms and specialized virtual environments were used alongside pre-recorded sessions. Positive benefits included psychological enrichment, social connectivity, cognitive improvements, and brain changes, although some studies reported mixed or no significant effects in certain areas.

Conclusion

Telehealth in arts therapies significantly benefits individuals with NNDs, improving accessibility and providing psychological, emotional, social, and cognitive benefits. The positive benefits observed highlight the potential of these interventions to improve overall well-being and daily functioning. Future research may focus on high-quality qualitative studies and neuroimaging assessments to further validate the impact of telehealth arts therapies.

Insights From Art Therapists on Using AI-Generated Art in Art Therapy: Mixed Methods Study

Background

With the increasing integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into various aspects of daily life, there is a growing interest among designers and practitioners in incorporating AI into their fields. In health care domains like art therapy, AI is also becoming a subject of exploration. However, the use of AI in art therapy is still undergoing investigation, with its benefits and challenges being actively explored.

Objective

This study aims to investigate the integration of AI into art therapy practices to comprehend its potential impact on therapeutic processes and outcomes. Specifically, the focus is on understanding the perspectives of art therapists regarding the use of AI-assisted tools in their practice with clients, as demonstrated through the presentation of our prototype consisting of a deck of cards with words covering various categories alongside an AI-generated image.

Methods

Using a co-design approach, 10 art therapists affiliated with the American Art Therapy Association participated in this study. They engaged in individual interviews where they discussed their professional perspectives on integrating AI into their therapeutic approaches and evaluating the prototype. Qualitative analysis was conducted to derive themes and insights from these sessions.

Results

The study began in August 2023, with data collection involving 10 participants taking place in October 2023. Our qualitative findings provide a comprehensive evaluation of the impact of AI on facilitating therapeutic processes. The combination of a deck of cards and the use of an AI-generated tool demonstrated an enhancement in the quality and accessibility of therapy sessions. However, challenges such as credibility and privacy concerns were also identified.

Conclusions

The integration of AI into art therapy presents promising avenues for innovation and progress within the field. By gaining insights into the perspectives and experiences of art therapists, this study contributes knowledge for both practical application and further research.

Psychedelic Art and Implications for Mental Health: Randomized Pilot Study

BACKGROUND

Psychedelic art (PA) emerged in the 1960s during the psychedelic era; then characterized by visuals induced by the ingestion of psychedelic drugs, it is now an art form known for its vibrant colors, distorted forms, and intricate patterns. Building upon the existing research on art viewing as an effective means to improving physiological and psychological well-being, viewing PA is postulated to evoke positive emotions and provide a meditative experience, contributing to improved mental well-being.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to investigate how digitally rendered PA influences viewers' perceived emotional, mental, and physical states compared to imagery of natural scenery, offering insights into potential applications in mental health care and well-being.

METHODS

Overall, 102 participants age 18 to 35 years were randomly assigned to either the experimental group viewing 300 seconds of PA imagery (50/102, 49%) or the control group viewing 300 seconds of scenic imagery (52/102, 51%), after which every participant completed a survey that gathered qualitative data on the perceived impact of viewing their given imagery on their physical, mental, and emotional states through open-ended questions. Thematic analysis was conducted to identify the patterns of experiences reported by the participants.

RESULTS

Qualitative analysis unveiled a greater intensity and diversity of emotional, mental, and physical impacts induced by PA compared to natural scenery, including the sense of relaxation and peace, anxiety and stress alleviation, joy, thrill and sense of euphoria, sensations of awe and wonder, hypnotizing effect, holistic meditative effect, provocation of creative thoughts, induced hyperawareness of bodily states, and transitions from induced overstimulation or anxious thoughts to feelings of calmness.

CONCLUSIONS

The preliminary findings of this study suggest that PA is a rich and complex form of visual art that has the potential to facilitate healing and promote well-being and mental health. PA presents promising avenues for integration into mental health care, therapeutic practices, digital health, health care environment, and medical research.

Aesthetic experiences and their transformative power: a systematic review

Background

Transformative experiences (TEs) have been conceptualized in many ways, contexts, magnitudes, and durations, but at their heart, they entail some manner of adjustment, which contributes to changing individuals' worldviews, actions, views of others and/or their own feelings, personality, and identity. Among the many elicitors identified as being able to foster TEs, an emerging body of literature has suggested that TEs might be prevalent in aesthetics or emerged from encounters with human art. Beyond denoting ordinary moments characterizing our daily lives, art and aesthetics could occasionally represent profound changes, causing shifts in our perceptions, beliefs and understanding of the world. However, in the realm of psychological inquiry, the extent to which art and aesthetics can be considered potential catalysts for transformation remains a topic of debate. Furthermore, a comprehensive identification of the key psychological components that contribute to the process of transformation before, during, and after aesthetic engagement is still missing.

Aims

This systematic review endeavors to address these gaps by synthesizing literature on aesthetic transformative experiences either from the field of psychology or explicitly delving into the psychological impact of transformative experiences within the realm of art and aesthetics. It encompasses both theoretical and empirical papers to determine key aspects and psychological components that characterize TEs.

Methods

Two major electronic databases were systematically searched. The review was conducted in accordance with Liberati et al. (2009) and PRISMA guidelines. All stages of the review were conducted independently by three researchers, and the protocol was published on PROSPERO (Registration no.: CRD42022298655).

Results

Although 39.440 studies were identified, only 23 peer-reviewed articles were included in this review, as most studies did not explicitly delve into the long-lasting psychological impact of art and aesthetics.

Discussion

The results confirm the potential of art and aesthetics as elicitors of transformation regardless of the type of artwork and the usage context. Moreover, it also identifies some psychological components necessary for transformation in the realm of art and aesthetics, including facilitating conditions/pre-expectations, cognitive discrepancy, epiphany and insight, and several after-effects on the recipient.

Conclusion

The review aids in refining and enriching the concept of transformative experience, paving the way for further research and applications in various fields, including not only psychology but also education and therapeutic interventions.

Systematic review registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier CRD42022298655.

"When I go back to painting, I am 'Alice in Wonderland": older women coping with age-related crises through visual artmaking

BACKGROUND

The creative process of visual artmaking provides an opportunity for older women to express themselves and explore their emotions, thoughts, and experiences. This study examined the roles of visual artmaking in older women's lives in general and in relation to the ongoing challenges of aging.

METHODS

The sample was composed of 21 Israeli women aged 60-90, who indicated that they produced visual artworks on an ongoing basis. The participants' artworks were collected, and semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted.

RESULTS

A thematic analysis of the interviews revealed 4 themes: visual artmaking to address the challenges of older women's lives, artwork as a framework for doing, visual artmaking to support the wellbeing of older women, artwork as channel of communication and stronger ties with family members.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings contribute to a better understanding of the roles of visual art in older women's lives, especially in times of crisis.

Efficacy of a Virtual Reality Rehabilitation Protocol Based on Art Therapy in Patients with Stroke: A Single-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND

Art therapy has a long history of applications in cognitive and motor rehabilitation. More recently, a growing body of scientific literature has highlighted the potential of virtual reality in neurorehabilitation, though it has focused more on the technology itself than on the principles adopted in digital scenarios.

METHODS

This study is a single-blind randomized controlled trial conducted on 40 patients with stroke, comparing conventional therapy (physical therapy for the upper and lower limbs, for posture and balance, cognitive therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and specific therapy for swallowing, bowel, and bladder dysfunctions) to a protocol in which the upper limb physical therapy was substituted with art therapy administered by means of virtual reality exploiting the so-called Michelangelo effect.

RESULTS

After 12 sessions, patients in the virtual art therapy group showed a significantly greater improvement in independence in activities of daily living, as assessed by the Barthel Index (interaction of time and group: p = 0.001). Significant differences were also found in terms of upper limb muscle strength (Manual Muscle Test, p < 0.01) and reduction in spasticity (Ashworth scale, p = 0.007) in favor of the experimental group. In the virtual art therapy group, the effectiveness of the intervention was significantly correlated with patient participation (Pittsburgh Rehabilitation Participation Scale: R = 0.41), patient satisfaction (R = 0.60), and the perceived utility of the intervention by the therapist (R = 0.43).

CONCLUSIONS

These findings support the efficacy of virtual art therapy leveraging the Michelangelo effect. Further studies should also focus on cognitive domains that could benefit from this type of approach.

Women with disabilities, body image, and wellbeing: Assessing the effectiveness of dance sessions

INTRODUCTION

There is growing research evidence on bodily discourses and body image issues of women with disabilities. Within the art-based intervention repertoire for persons with disabilities, dance and movement-based therapies and interventions are gaining prominence. The aim of this study was to examine the impact of dance sessions (delivered online) on body image, body satisfaction/dissatisfaction, and wellbeing of women with disabilities.

METHOD

A quasi-experimental waitlist control design study was conducted with data collected at two time points: baseline or pre-test and five-months later or post-test. Outcomes were measured using the Body Image Scale and the WHO-5-Wellbeing Index.

RESULTS

The dance sessions were effective (Hedges' g = -0.56 -0.88; p < 0.01) and post-test body dissatisfaction scores were lower and wellbeing scores were higher for participants with a college degree or postgraduate degree, self-employed or students, and whose intervention compliance was above threshold (>50% dance sessions attended and corresponding homework sessions completed). Tobit regression models indicated that it was possible to estimate post-test outcomes due to dance sessions alone, controlling for significant socio-demographics.

DISCUSSION

The domain knowledge of non-pharmacological art-based interventions for persons with disabilities, particularly women, is supported.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings commend dance sessions as effective psychotherapeutic mechanisms to mitigate body dissatisfaction, improve body image and wellbeing of women with disabilities. Future research may focus on large-scale cross-sectional trials, variations in the repertoire for women with different disability types and histories, and qualitative narratives.

The effects of art therapy interventions on anxiety in children and adolescents: A meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to assess the effects of art therapy on anxiety among children and adolescents.

METHODS

We searched several databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, Embase (via Ovid), PsychINFO (through EBSCO), and The Cochrane Library, comprising the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. Additionally, Chinese databases such as CNKI (China National Knowledge Infrastructure) and Wan Fang Data were explored from their beginnings until October 22, 2023. Studies that investigated the impact of art therapy on anxiety compared to a control group were included. The methodological quality of these randomized controlled trials was evaluated using the Cochrane Handbook's risk of bias instrument.

RESULTS

Six studies involving 422 participants were included. The findings indicated a notable decrease in anxiety symptoms due to art therapy, with a Standardized Mean Difference (SMD) of -1.42, 95% Confidence Interval (95%CI -2.33, -0.51), p < 0.002. Notably, there was pronounced heterogeneity, as evidenced by Tau2 = 1.41, Chi2 = 101.19, df = 6, and I² = 94%, with Z = 3.06.

CONCLUSION

Art therapy significantly improved the anxiety symptoms of children and adolescents, positioning it as an effective means of treating anxiety.

The Artificial Third: A Broad View of the Effects of Introducing Generative Artificial Intelligence on Psychotherapy

Unlabelled

This paper explores a significant shift in the field of mental health in general and psychotherapy in particular following generative artificial intelligence's new capabilities in processing and generating humanlike language. Following Freud, this lingo-technological development is conceptualized as the "fourth narcissistic blow" that science inflicts on humanity. We argue that this narcissistic blow has a potentially dramatic influence on perceptions of human society, interrelationships, and the self. We should, accordingly, expect dramatic changes in perceptions of the therapeutic act following the emergence of what we term the artificial third in the field of psychotherapy. The introduction of an artificial third marks a critical juncture, prompting us to ask the following important core questions that address two basic elements of critical thinking, namely, transparency and autonomy: (1) What is this new artificial presence in therapy relationships? (2) How does it reshape our perception of ourselves and our interpersonal dynamics? and (3) What remains of the irreplaceable human elements at the core of therapy? Given the ethical implications that arise from these questions, this paper proposes that the artificial third can be a valuable asset when applied with insight and ethical consideration, enhancing but not replacing the human touch in therapy.

A practical development protocol for evidence-based digital integrative arts therapy content in public mental health services: digital transformation of mandala art therapy

Introduction

The fundamentals of digital transformation include the conversion of the traditional method into a digital format to develop a standardized system that collects, analyzes, and processes quantitative data. This study aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the development process and key elements of evidence-based digital integrative arts therapy.

Methods

The "Digital Mandala" service in the "Mental Health App" produced as part of a national public mental health project for personalized depression management is adopted to explain how to convert the existing mandala art therapy into digital format. A living lab approach has been applied, which can be used to address the nation's mental health challenges by promoting collaboration, innovation, and evidence-based solutions.

Results

Evidence-based digital content requires evidence that covers the structural process, the effects of existing methods, and the components and meanings of each detailed scene. In this section, we provide five stages of the development process, including preliminary research, design, development, commercialization, and advancement. Consequently, clinical elements, integrative arts therapy features, and data factors are defined as the key principles of evidence-based digital integrative arts therapy.

Discussion

Based on the data factors found in this study, it will be possible to create an evaluation dataset of digital integrative arts therapy content for managing depression. Additionally, the large-scale public data can be analyzed through artificial intelligence technology, which is expected to be used as a basis for deriving significant results in a new form, going further than the existing evaluation method. This research is significant because it establishes the foundation for digital transformation in the field of art therapy for public mental health services and investigates its potential.

Rapid implementation of Veterans Health Administration telehealth creative arts therapies: survey evaluation of adoption and adaptation

BACKGROUND

Creative arts therapies (CAT) are employed throughout the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and are predominantly delivered in-person. Though telehealth delivery of CAT was used at several VHA facilities to increase services to rural Veterans, due to guidance from the Center for Disease Control and VHA that temporarily suspended or reduced in-person services, there was a large increase of CAT therapists enterprise-wide who adopted telehealth delivery. The aims of this study were to evaluate adoption and adaptation of CAT telehealth delivery and identify related barriers and facilitators.

METHODS

We deployed a survey guided by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research and administered it via email to all VHA CAT therapists (N = 120). Descriptive statistics were used to summarize data and responses were compared based on therapists' age, years of experience and CAT discipline. Open survey field responses were summarized, qualitatively coded, and analyzed thematically.

RESULTS

Most therapists (76%) reported adopting telehealth with 74% each delivering > 50 CAT sessions in the prior year. Therapists adapted interventions or created new ones to be delivered through telehealth. Barriers included: technical challenges, control of the virtual space, and building rapport. Facilitators included added equipment, software, and infrastructure. CAT therapists adapted their session preparation, session content, outcome expectations, and equipment. CAT therapists reported being able to reach more patients and improved access to care with telehealth compared to in person visits. Additional benefits were patient therapeutic effects from attending sessions from home, therapist convenience, and clinician growth.

CONCLUSIONS

VHA CAT therapists used their inherent creativity to problem solve difficulties and make adaptations for CAT telehealth adoption. Future studies may explore CAT telehealth sustainment and its effectiveness on clinical processes and outcomes.

Online art therapy pilot in the Western Isles of Scotland: a feasibility and acceptability study of a novel service in a rural community

Introduction

Art therapy, despite being an evidence-based, safe and acceptable intervention, is not widely available to clients in Scotland. Online delivery has the potential to expand the reach and accessibility, but special considerations need to be given to designing successful online art therapy services, due to the unique emphasis on the role of an image and artmaking alongside the therapeutic relationship.

Methods

A pilot online art therapy service was developed and delivered in the Western Isles of Scotland to individual adult clients wishing to increase their psychological wellbeing. This research aimed to assess feasibility and acceptability of the novel service, identify enablers and challenges in setting up and delivering the service, explore participants' expectations and experiences of art therapy and identify any impacts of the service. Mixed-method evaluation incorporated questionnaires, focus groups, interviews and Audio Image Recordings (AIRs). Findings were grouped into themes across several key areas: service setup, research procedures, intervention design and impacts and insights. Recommendations were developed for the first three areas and the last section presents indications of change and gives voice to client experience primarily.

Results

Online art therapy was described by clients as a judgement-free zone which allowed freedom to experiment, express, feel and immerse themselves in the creative flow. Other benefits included readiness to accept emotions, increased understanding of self and others and being able to see things from a new perspective. Clients recognised the unique nature of art therapy in relation to other psychological treatments and valued the freedom of expression it offered, including the non-verbal.

Discussion

This project demonstrated that online art therapy is not only a feasible an acceptable intervention, but potentially also a powerfully impactful one, capable of instilling a positive change in a surprisingly short period of time. Exploring ways to expand current and introduce new art therapy services is highly recommended. Refinement of an intervention design, tools and research procedures is recommended through further feasibility studies of a larger scale.

A case study of group art therapy using digital media for adolescents with intellectual disabilities

Introduction

In art therapy, digital art therapy is a new method in which clients use digital media to express themselves creatively. We wanted to explore what this means for adolescents with disabilities. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explain what kind of experience they had when digital media was applied as an expressive and therapeutic medium in group art therapy in which adolescents with intellectual disabilities were participants and what kind of therapeutic meaning the experience had. We tried to know the therapeutic factors by extracting the implications of meaning.

Methods

Participants were second-year high school students with intellectual disabilities who belonged to special classes. They were selected in an intentional purposive sampling method. Five teenagers with intellectual disabilities participated in 11 group art therapy sessions. Data were collected through interviews, observation, and digital artwork collection. Collected data were case studies analyzed using an inductive approach. In this study, the use of digital media was defined and utilized as "Digital Art Therapy" by setting the scope related to the study according to client's behavioral method.

Results

As a digital generation accustomed to smartphones, the participants gained confidence by repeatedly acquiring new technologies through familiarity with the media. Interaction with the media through touch and the use of apps have promoted autonomy with interest and pleasure to disabled teenagers, allowing them to express themselves actively. In particular, digital art therapy induces a holistic sensory experience by mobilizing visual images that could represent various expressions, emotions felt in music and tactile senses that made texts for people with intellectual disabilities with difficulty in verbal communication.

Discussion

Art therapy using digital media has become an important experience that provides opportunities to arouse curiosity, enjoy creative activities, and express positive emotions vividly to adolescents with intellectual disabilities who have difficulties with expression and communication and a sense of lethargy. Therefore, it is suggested that an in-depth understanding of the characteristics and differences between traditional and digital media is necessary, and that complementary use to help create therapeutic purposes and art therapy is important.

Photovoice Techniques and Art Therapy Approaches with Refugee and Immigrant Adolescents

This paper describes a program informed by art therapy and Photovoice approaches and techniques aimed at helping new immigrant and refugee teens to navigate personal and cultural identities by reflecting on their experiences as new residents in the US. Photovoice is a photography and social action method that encourages participants to photograph aspects of their daily lives, reflect on their meaning and significance and galvanize necessary changes. The program began in February 2020 at the Arab-American National Museum (AANM), but was adapted for an online format and re-framed towards a reflection on the COVID-19 pandemic. Broad questions teens explored included: What is good? What is challenging? What is sustaining during challenging times? What needs to change? and What about your culture and background are you proud of and wish to share with other US residents? Highlights of the sessions demonstrate how art therapy interventions paralleled photography-assigned themes of self, home, and community and encouraged group interaction and mutual support. A virtual museum exhibition culminated the program and reached community leaders. Self-reports from select participants highlight changes in posttraumatic stress, anxiety, and somatic symptoms over the course of programming.

Loss, Adaptation and Growth: The Experiences of Creative Arts Therapists during the Covid-19 Pandemic

Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, mental health professionals have been called upon to cope with various challenges, including the shift to telehealth without prior training, overload in the workplace, increased risk of infection, and personal stressors relating to the pandemic. This article presents the qualitative findings of a larger international mixed-method study that explored the experiences of creative arts therapists around the globe during the first year of the pandemic (Feniger-Schaal et al., 2022). Twenty creative arts therapists were interviewed between July 2020 and March 2021. Transcriptions of the interviews were qualitatively analyzed through reflexive thematic analysis. Three main themes were identified: an experience of processing the losses caused by the pandemic, a restorative orientation that focused on adaptations the therapists made, and innovations that lead to personal and professional growth. Artistic engagement and creativity were found to be a resource when coping with losses and helped therapists adapt to the shift to tele-creative arts therapies (tele-CAT). Although this shift can lead to advances in the field of creative arts therapies, it requires further consideration, including the need for ethical guidelines, specific training, the development of digital methods that support the creative process, and dedicated supervision for therapists. The findings also point to the importance of psychological support to mitigate the burden therapists experience during stressful events.

Creativity and art therapies to promote healthy aging: A scoping review

The purpose of this scoping review is to investigate the value of creative arts therapies in healthy older adults. This article aims to shed light on current knowledge concerning the effectiveness of art therapies (ATs) for the prevention of common age-related conditions using the definition of art therapy provided by the American Art Therapy Association (AATA), as well as Cohen's conceptual framework for the psychological conceptualization of the relationship between the arts and health in later life. The objective is to carefully capture subthreshold situations of distress, which are often not taken into account and primarily involve psychological aspects that are crucial in the multidimensional perspective of healthy aging. Twelve articles were selected and examined following an initial electronic search on 3 databases. A thematic analysis of the results identified four major themes: improving cognitive performance and proprioception; enhancing self-identity and meaningful life; reducing feelings of loneliness and depressive symptoms; and the importance of socialization. All these aspects constitute the basis for preventing psychological distress and enhancing mental well-being for healthy aging.

The Psychological Recovery of Patients in the Context of Virtual Reality Application by a Complementary Medicine Scheme Based on Visual Art

Expressive art therapy, which originated from art therapy, uses visual art as a carrier and plays a complementary role in clinical medicine and psychological medicine in the healing process of mentally ill patients. With the rapid development of science and technology, expressive art therapy has also entered the field of technology-oriented virtual reality. This study aims to summarize the clinical psychology research of expressive art therapy based on virtual reality, to review the current state of the field, in order to provide detailed scientific research evidence summary for relevant content and complete knowledge reserve.

Can a Brief Interaction With Online, Digital Art Improve Wellbeing? A Comparative Study of the Impact of Online Art and Culture Presentations on Mood, State-Anxiety, Subjective Wellbeing, and Loneliness

When experienced in-person, engagement with art has been associated—in a growing body of evidence—with positive outcomes in wellbeing and mental health. This represents an exciting new field for psychology, curation, and health interventions, suggesting a widely-accessible, cost-effective, and non-pharmaceutical means of regulating factors such as mood or anxiety. However, can similar impacts be found with online presentations? If so, this would open up positive outcomes to an even-wider population—a trend accelerating due to the current COVID-19 pandemic. Despite its promise, this question, and the underlying mechanisms of art interventions and impacts, has largely not been explored. Participants (N = 84) were asked to engage with one of two online exhibitions from Google Arts and Culture (a Monet painting or a similarly-formatted display of Japanese culinary traditions). With just 1–2 min exposure, both improved negative mood, state-anxiety, loneliness, and wellbeing. Stepdown analysis suggested the changes can be explained primarily via negative mood, while improvements in mood correlated with aesthetic appraisals and cognitive-emotional experience of the exhibition. However, no difference was found between exhibitions. We discuss the findings in terms of applications and targets for future research.

Advances for future working following an online dramatherapy group for adults with intellectual disabilities and mental ill health during the COVID-19 pandemic: A service evaluation for Cumbria, Northumberland Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust

Background

During the COVID-19 pandemic, social distancing measures were enforced and the national lockdown underlined our reliance on virtual means as a way to communicate. This new way of interacting highlighted that people with an intellectual disability were a large proportion of a digitally excluded population.

Methods

A service evaluation, using a mixed method design in the form of four self-reported outcome measures and qualitative feedback.

Findings

Clinical services need to continue when face to face sessions are not possible. Remote groups can be an alternative option not only when self-isolating due to pandemics but when living in remote locations, having physical health problems or excessive expenses and travel costs.

Conclusions

Online dramatherapy groups can be a beneficial alternative when face to face groups are not possible or challenging to attend due to access difficulties. Online groups can offer opportunities to meet with peers, build relationships, improve confidence and learn new skills in technology.

Crafting Life Stories in Photocollage: An Online Creative Art-Based Intervention for Older Adults

Creative arts therapies (CAT) provide a safe and creative environment for older adults to process life experiences and maintain personal growth while aging. There is a growing need to make creative arts therapies more accessible to the aging population, as many have limited access to these services. This need has been catalyzed by the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic. Tele-CAT offers a possible solution. This study explored the experiences of older adults who participated in an online creative process of digital photocollage based on CAT. Twenty-four Italian and Israeli community-dwelling older adults aged 78 to 92 participated in this research through Zoom teleconferencing software. Transcriptions of the sessions and the art produced through the photocollage were qualitatively analyzed through Thematic Analysis. The findings show that the projective stimuli of digital photographs supported older adults' narratives and engaged them in a more embodied emotional experience. Participant experiences involved artistic enjoyment within a positive and safe interaction with therapists. The creation of digital photocollages allowed the participants to process their life experiences and create an integrative view of their life, a vital developmental task in late life. These results point to the advantages and challenges of tele-CAT for older adults.