Drawing your way out: Imagery rehearsal based art therapy (IR-AT) for post-traumatic nightmares in borderline personality disorder

Posttraumatic nightmares (PTN) are a frequent symptom after a traumatic event and often play part in the psychopathology of patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD). Imagery rehearsal therapy (IRT) currently offers the best evidence for an effective treatment to reduce PTNs, although high drop-out rates are common. Art therapy in IRT may counteract this, by its indirect, nonverbal, and often playful approach that helps to break through avoidance. This case study focusses on the perception of a patient with BPD in an art therapy based IRT treatment for patients with PTNs. It tells the story of Aurelia, a 40-year-old woman who, within this treatment, processes traumatic contents of her childhood like physical and sexual violence, but also current interactional problems that manifest themselves in her nightmares. Following the IR-AT treatment for PTNs Aurelia noticed a reduction in her nightmares, was less afraid of them and felt calmer towards her trauma. She expressed herself in the art medium and by this developed more self-efficacy. Her process resulted in an integration of the trauma and a perceived decrease in borderline symptoms. Future research can build on this basis to further explore the mechanisms and effects of IR-AT for PTNs.

Making meaning of one's own life story in words and images: A narrative case report of personal recovery from personality disorder through the interventions "An Empowering Story" and art therapy

Understanding and processing life experiences are essential in the treatment of personality disorders to promote personal recovery and psychological wellbeing. In this qualitative case report, drafted in co-creation between the client, clinical psychologist, and art therapist, individual treatment consisted of two psychotherapeutic interventions, "An Empowering Story" and life-story-focused art therapy, in 12 parallel sessions for 24 weeks. Hilda, 68 years of age, had been diagnosed with an unspecified personality disorder and various traits of borderline personality disorder. She experienced emotional exhaustion following long-term mental health problems rooted in a traumatic early childhood. This affected her ability to manage her emotions and social relations, resulting in the sense that her life had no meaning. Hilda was invited to reconstruct her life experiences, divided into the past, turning point, and present/future, in a written and a painted life story. This allowed for the integration of traumatic as well as positive memories, enhanced self-compassion, and meaning making. She developed self-reflection and integration of internal conflicts leading to a better emotional balance and self-understanding. Art therapy emphasizes bottom-up regulatory processes, while narrative psychology supports top-down regulatory processes. The combined approach effectively integrated bottom-up, experiential, sensory experiences with top-down, cognitive emotion-regulation processes. The results suggest that psychotherapeutic interventions involving a multi-pronged, complementary, and thus more holistic approach can support personal recovery in personality disorders.

Music therapy for therapeutic development in personality disorders: A qualitative case study

People with personality disorders (PDs) are often difficult to reach emotionally in therapy. As music therapy (MT) provides an entry point to emotions and facilitates contact and communication, it is regularly used with this target group. This study presents a case study of a 40-year-old woman diagnosed with a PD not otherwise defined. "Nina" experienced depressive and physical symptoms, including severe anxiety. Previous treatments had failed. In MT, she experienced a sense of safety. Over the course of the treatment, she experimented with making herself heard, learned to listen to herself and recognize her own physical signals, permitted closeness and cooperation, and began setting boundaries and taking initiative. She got in touch with and learned to regulate emotions such as sadness and fear. Self-criticism gave way to a more compassionate self. Nina began to experience positive feelings and showed progress in her work and social interactions. The findings suggest that MT can directly connect to clients' emotions, behaviors, and thoughts in a way they perceive as safe. This is of the utmost importance for clients who are hard to reach. The use of MT can potentially prevent dropout and further entrapment in personality problems.

Effectiveness of trauma-focused art therapy (TFAT) for psychological trauma: study protocol of a multiple-baseline single-case experimental design

INTRODUCTION

Treatments such as eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing and (narrative) exposure therapies are commonly used in psychological trauma. In everyday practice, art therapy is also often used, although rigorous research on its efficacy is lacking. Patients seem to benefit from the indirect, non-verbal experiential approach of art therapy. This protocol paper describes a study to examine the effectiveness of a 10-week individual trauma-focused art therapy (TFAT) intervention.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

A mixed-methods multiple-baseline single-case experimental design will be conducted with 25-30 participants with psychological trauma. Participants will be randomly assigned to a baseline period lasting 3-5 weeks, followed by the TFAT intervention (10 weeks) and follow-up (3 weeks). Quantitative measures will be completed weekly: the Beck Depression Inventory-II, the Mental Health Continuum Short Form, the Resilience Scale, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale and the Self-expression and Emotion Regulation in Art Therapy Scale. The Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist-5 will be completed at week 1 and week 10. Qualitative instruments comprise a semistructured interview with each individual patient and therapist, and a short evaluation for the referrer. Artwork will be used to illustrate the narrative findings. Quantitative outcomes will be analysed with linear mixed models using the MultiSCED web application. Qualitative analyses will be performed using thematic analysis with ATLAS.ti.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

This study has been approved by the ethics committee of the HAN University of Applied Sciences (ECO 394.0922). All participants will sign an informed consent form and data will be treated confidentially. Findings will be published open access in peer-reviewed journals.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT05593302.

Effectiveness and mechanisms of the arts therapies in forensic care. A systematic review, narrative synthesis, and meta analysis

Introduction

Mental health care provided to offenders with psychiatric problems in forensic settings mainly consists of verbal oriented treatments. In addition, experience-based therapies are used such as (creative) arts therapies: (visual) art therapy, music therapy, drama therapy and dance (movement) therapy. There are indications for effectiveness of arts therapies, but a systematic overview of effect studies of all arts therapies in forensic care is lacking.

Methods

First, we performed a systematic review. Second, Thematic Analysis was used to synthesize the qualitative narrative results and define the hypothesized mechanisms of change. Third, we performed a meta-analysis to investigate the effects of arts therapies in reducing psychosocial problems of offenders. Twenty-three studies were included in the review. Quality and risk of bias was assessed using EPHPP (Effective Public Health Practice Project).

Results

The included studies were heterogeneous in type of outcome measures and intervention characteristics. Synthesis of mechanisms of change involved in the methodical use of the arts in arts therapies resulted in a description of regulatory processes which are stimulated in arts therapies: perceptive awareness (interoceptive and exteroceptive), the regulation of emotions, stress, impulses, cognitions, social regulation, and self-expression. These processes play a role in developing prevention, coping and self-management skills. Eighteen studies were included in the meta-analyses (11 RCTs/CCTs; 7 pre-post studies). The meta-analyses indicated significant effects on both risk factors (psychiatric symptoms and addiction) and protective factors for criminal behavior (social functioning and psychological functioning). Effects on criminal and/or antisocial behavior were not significant, but this outcome measure was scarcely used among the studies.

Discussion

The analyses in this study should be considered explorative. More research is needed to gain more solid conclusions about effectiveness and mechanisms of change of arts therapies in forensic institutions. However, the results of this first systematic review, synthesis of mechanisms and meta-analysis in this field are promising and show effects of arts therapies on risk and protective factors in individuals in forensic institutions.

Systematic review registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42020217884, identifier: CRD42020217884.

Dealing with opposites as a mechanism of change in art therapy in personality disorders: A mixed methods study

Introduction

Personality disorders can be characterized by emotion regulation problems, difficulties in self-regulation and by dichotomous, black-and-white thinking. Dealing with opposites as a mechanism of change used by art therapists might be beneficial for people diagnosed with a personality disorder. This study examined the overall question if and in what way dealing with opposites in art therapy is a mechanism of change in achieving personal therapeutic goals.

Method

A convergent parallel mixed-methods pilot study was performed among patients with a personality disorder (N = 32). Participants received four sessions of art therapy focused on opposites. They completed questionnaires on emotion regulation, positive and negative affect and sense of emotional balance before and after each session. Additionally, they completed a questionnaire on self-expression before and after the four sessions. Furthermore, 10 interviews (eight patients/two therapists) were conducted.

Results

Quantitative results comparing baseline versus after the four sessions showed a significant change indicating that there might be a positive change regarding self-expression and emotion regulation (t = -2.45, p = 0.02, ES d = 0.30). A significant change was measured in acceptance of emotional responses (Z = -2.66, p = 0.01) and the state of emotion was rated as more balanced (Z = -2.19, p = 0.03). No further significant changes were found. Qualitative results showed that using opposites in art therapy often helped to gain insight, self-exploration and self-awareness and could facilitate confrontation as well as acceptance although sometimes it was (too) confronting.

Discussion

Integration of conflicting emotions, behaviors, and thoughts were promoted by the explicit use of opposites and supporting coherent representation. Practice based recommendations are therefore to make more explicit use of dealing with opposites as a theme in art therapy. Also, we recommend more research on different mechanisms of change to refine the theory of change that provides an underpinning rationale and structure for art therapy. The results of this research should be regarded as exploratory given the small sample size and limited amount of therapy sessions.

Effects of Arts and Psychomotor Therapies in Personality Disorders. Developing a Treatment Guideline Based on a Systematic Review Using GRADE

What is the effect of arts and psychomotor therapies, using art, dance, drama, music, movement and body awareness, in personality disorder treatment? This was explored by developing a treatment guideline based on a systematic review using the GRADE system within the context of the Dutch national multidisciplinary guidelines for treatment of personality disorders. Conclusions were formulated by a work group and based on the scientific substantiation and were integrated with other indications in the functioning of arts and psychomotor therapies in personality disorders. The first general search yielded 1,900 records which was brought back to 53 full-texts. Ultimately, 1 RCT and 2 pilot studies were included. Recommendations for treatment are that arts and psychomotor therapies are included in treatment, independent of age, sex or specific diagnostic characteristics. Arts and psychomotor therapies can be considered for purposes of coming into emotional contact with difficult aspects of patients and their experiences, to work on goals such as regulation of emotions, stress, identity/self-image, self-expression, mood/anxiety, relaxation, changing patterns and social functioning. Enlisting arts and psychomotor therapies for patients with a personality disorder is recommended because they value these therapies and perceive these to be effective. It could be considered to ask arts and psychomotor therapies to provide a contribution to the diagnostic process, to the problem analysis via observation and to determining treatment indication and treatment goals. More research is needed.

VR Health Experience: A Virtual Space for Arts and Psychomotor Therapy

Introduction: Mental health and well-being are under pressure because of the corona pandemic. Arts and psychomotor therapists said that they had almost no experience with working online, but despite the fact that they felt incapable, they were positive towards it.

Method: This qualitative action research was aimed at how arts and psychomotor therapists can become more skilled in offering online arts and psychomotor therapy and how they can methodically enlist the VR Health Experience (a virtual arts and psychomotor therapy space) in therapy. It is envisaged that the arts and psychomotor therapist could be telepresent in order to offer arts and psychomotor therapy remotely. In online training that made use of the Lean Startup Method, participants (n = 5) integrated their working knowledge with the VR Health Experience. The interventions were immediately tested by the participants and in practice. Participants were interviewed retrospectively and their experiences were thematically analysed.

Results: The VR Health Experience came forward as an innovative addition to the usual arts and psychomotor therapy. Often, clients were encouraged to play and experiment, and the VR world offered several options. The VR Health Experience lowered the threshold, expanded the training areas and held a great attraction for play.

Discussion: This project offered an innovative quality boost for arts and psychomotor therapy. Arts and psychomotor therapy have proven to be possible remotely via telepresence of the therapist. The therapist is present together with the client in the VR Health Experience, the virtual arts and psychomotor therapy space, where connectedness can be felt and new experiences can be gained. VR also offers further possibilities in arts and psychomotor therapy.

Validity of the Self-Expression and Emotion Regulation in Art Therapy Scale (SERATS)

Background

The Self-Expression Emotion Regulation in Art Therapy Scale (SERATS) was developed as art therapy lacked outcome measures that could be used to monitor the specific effects of art therapy. Although the SERATS showed good psychometric properties in earlier studies, it lacked convergent validity and thus construct validity.

Method

To test the convergent validity of the SERATS correlation was examined with the EES (Emotional Expressivity Scale), Emotion Regulation Strategies for Artistic Creative Activities Scale (ERS-ACA) and Healthy-Unhealthy Music Scale (HUMS). Patients diagnosed with a Personality Disorder, and thus having self-regulation and emotion regulation problems (n = 179) and a healthy student population (n = 53) completed the questionnaires (N = 232).

Results

The SERATS showed a high reliability and convergent validity in relation to the ERS-ACA approach strategies and self-development strategies in both patients and students and the HUMS healthy scale, in patients. Hence, what the SERATS measures is highly associated with emotion regulation strategies like acceptance, reappraisal, discharge and problem solving and with improving a sense of self including self-identity, increased self-esteem and improved agency as well as the healthy side of art making. Respondents rated the SERATS as relatively easy to complete compared to the other questionnaires.

Conclusion

The SERATS is a valid, useful and user-friendly tool for monitoring the effect of art therapy that is indicative of making art in a healthy way that serves positive emotion regulation and self-development.

Imagery Rehearsal Based Art Therapy: Treatment of Post-traumatic Nightmares in Art Therapy

Imagery Rehearsal Therapy (IRT) is effective for trauma-related nightmares and is also a challenge to patients in finding access to their traumatic memories, because these are saved in non-verbal, visual, or audiovisual language. Art therapy (AT) is an experiential treatment that addresses images rather than words. This study investigates the possibility of an IRT-AT combination. Systematic literature review and field research was conducted, and the integration of theoretical and practice-based knowledge resulted in a framework for Imagery Rehearsal-based Art Therapy (IR-AT). The added value of AT in IRT appears to be more readily gaining access to traumatic experiences, living through feelings, and breaking through avoidance. Exposure and re-scripting take place more indirectly, experientially and sometimes in a playlike manner using art assignments and materials. In the artwork, imagination, play and fantasy offer creative space to stop the vicious circle of nightmares by changing theme, story line, ending, or any part of the dream into a more positive and acceptable one. IR-AT emerges as a promising method for treatment, and could be especially useful for patients who benefit least from verbal exposure techniques. This description of IR-AT offers a base for further research.

Benefits of Art Therapy in People Diagnosed With Personality Disorders: A Quantitative Survey

Art therapy is widely used and effective in the treatment of patients diagnosed with Personality Disorders (PDs). Current psychotherapeutic approaches may benefit from this additional therapy to improve their efficacy. But what is the patient perspective upon this therapy? This study explored perceived benefits of art therapy for patients with PDs to let the valuable perspective of patients be taken into account. Using a quantitative survey study over 3 months (N = 528), GLM repeated measures and overall hierarchical regression analyses showed that the majority of the patients reported quite a lot of benefit from art therapy (mean 3.70 on a 5-point Likert scale), primarily in emotional and social functioning. The improvements are concentrated in specific target goals of which the five highest scoring goals affected were: expression of emotions, improved (more stable/positive) self-image, making own choices/autonomy, recognition of, insight in, and changing of personal patterns of feelings, behaviors and thoughts and dealing with own limitations and/or vulnerability. Patients made it clear that they perceived these target areas as having been affected by art therapy and said so at both moments in time, with a higher score after 3 months. The extent of the perceived benefits is highly dependent for patients on factors such as a non-judgmental attitude on the part of the therapist, feeling that they are taken seriously, being given sufficient freedom of expression but at the same time being offered sufficient structure and an adequate basis. Age, gender, and diagnosis cluster did not predict the magnitude of perceived benefits. Art therapy provides equal advantages to a broad target group, and so this form of therapy can be broadly indicated. The experienced benefits and the increase over time was primarily associated with the degree to which patients perceive that they can give meaningful expression to feelings in their artwork. This provides an indication for the extent of the benefits a person can experience and can also serve as a clear guiding principle for interventions by the art therapist.

Strengthening the Healthy Adult Self in Art Therapy: Using Schema Therapy as a Positive Psychological Intervention for People Diagnosed With Personality Disorders

This article reviews recent theoretical contributions and studies about art therapy that attempt to capture aspects of healthy ego functioning and presents an inventory of art therapy interventions to strengthen the Healthy Adult. It discusses how art therapy can offer interventions that focus specifically and directly on the integration and growth of the whole person, and which interventions are suitable for this purpose in the treatment of people diagnosed with severe personality disorders. A link is made between the Healthy Adult as a familiar concept from Schema Therapy, and Positive Psychology, with its focus on well-being, strength and positive affect. On the basis of our present knowledge, available studies and experiences, art therapy seems promising in contributing to the development of Healthy Adult functioning. Art therapy addresses the different areas of healthy adult functioning. Specific art therapy interventions are discussed on a concrete level. Art therapy appears to offer ways to strengthen the Healthy Adult and helps people to free themselves from destructive patterns and to work on satisfying their basic needs as independent and responsibly functioning individuals in a positive connectedness with themselves and their surroundings. The strength of art therapy may be the experiential level and the appeal to the capacity to play, to flexibility, and to be creative. This makes experiences easier to reach, and developing from there into a Healthy Adult mode is possible in a manner that is more felt than thought. Creativity can be regarded as the ability of the Healthy Adult to be flexible and to find different solutions to a problem. This appeal of art therapy fits well the therapeutic goal of empowerment and well-being, which is at the heart of positive psychology. More research is needed to verify the effects and working mechanisms of art therapy interventions.

Efficacy of Art Therapy in Individuals With Personality Disorders Cluster B/C: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Multidisciplinary treatment programs for patients with personality disorders (PDs) often include art therapy, but the efficacy of this intervention has hardly been evaluated. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effects of an art therapy intervention on psychological functioning of patients with a PD. In this randomized controlled trial, 57 adult participants diagnosed with a PD cluster B/C (SCID-II) were randomly assigned to either weekly group art therapy (1.5 hours, 10 weeks) or a waiting list group. Outcome measures OQ45, AAQ-II, and SMI were assessed at baseline, at post-test (10 weeks after baseline), and at follow-up (5 weeks after post-test). The results show that art therapy is an effective treatment for PD patients because it not only reduces PD pathology and maladaptive modes but it also helps patients to develop adaptive, positive modes that indicate better mental health and self-regulation.

Measuring the contribution of art therapy in multidisciplinary treatment of personality disorders: The construction of the Self-expression and Emotion Regulation in Art Therapy Scale (SERATS)

Despite the use of art therapy in clinical practice, its appreciation and reported beneficial results, no instruments are available to measure specific effects of art therapy among patients with personality disorders cluster B/C in multidisciplinary treatment. In the present study, we described the development and psychometric evaluation of the Self-expression and Emotion Regulation in Art Therapy Scale (SERATS). Structural validity (exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis), reliability, construct validity and sensitivity to change were examined using two independent databases (n = 335; n = 34) of patients diagnosed with personality disorders cluster B/C. This resulted in a nine-item effect scale with a single factor with a high internal reliability and high test-retest reliability; it demonstrated discriminant validity and sensitivity to change. In conclusion, the SERATS is brief and content-valid and offers objective and reliable information on self-expression and emotion regulation in art therapy among patients with personality disorders cluster B/C. Although more research on construct validity is needed, the SERATS is a promising tool to be applied as an effect scale and as a monitoring tool during art therapy treatment. © 2017 The Authors Personality and Mental Health Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.