Effectiveness of art therapy for people with eating disorders: A mixed methods systematic review

Griffin, Caryn; Fenner, Patricia; Landorf, Karl B; Cotchett, Matthew

doi:10.1016/j.aip.2021.101859

Cited by 11 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 49 publications

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“…Additionally, the expression of shame is of itself shameful and therefore challenging to resolve. Communication via visual means appeared to offer an alternative avenue of expression for the artist, consistent with syntheses of art therapy for EDs [ 97 , 98 ]. The use of visual art therapy is understudied and has potential to bypass intellectualisation and cognitive filtering, enabling unconscious representations to emerge [ 99 ] and potentially re-processed, which may include shame processes.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 77%

Anorexia nervosa through the lens of a severe and enduring experience: ‘lost in a big world’

Kiely,

Conti,

Hay

2024

J Eat Disord

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Background Severe and enduring anorexia nervosa (SE-AN), is a serious and persistent illness, despite ‘state of the art’ treatment. Criteria have been theoretically proposed, but not tested, and may not adequately capture illness complexity, which potentially inhibits treatment refinements. The clinical reality of death as an outcome for some people who experience SE-AN (1 in 20) and broadening access to voluntary assisted dying, further complicates the field, which is undeveloped regarding more fundamental concepts such as nosology, treatment, recovery definitions and alternative conceptualisations of SE-AN. The present paper is in response to this and aims to build upon qualitative literature to enhance phenomenological understandings of fatal SE-AN. Method A published book, being the legacy of a 32-year-old professional artist offers a rich account of a life lived with AN, for 18 years with continuous treatment. A polysemous narrative via the interrelationship between the languages of the artist’s words and visual art is translated via interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA), offering rich insight into the SE-AN experience. Findings The process of analysis induced three superordinate themes (1) Disappearing Self (2) Dialectical Dilemma (3) Death and Dying: Finding Meaning. Two cross cutting themes traversed these themes: (a) Colour and (b) Shifting Hope, where the former produced a visual representation via the ‘SE-AN Kaleidoscope’. Collectively the themes produce a concept of SE-AN, grounded in the data and depicted visually through the artist’s paintings. Conclusions The picture of SE-AN revealed in the analysis extends upon conceptualisations of SE-AN, highlighting key processes which are thus far under explored. These factors are implicated in illness persistence eliciting opportunities for further research testing including diagnostic considerations and treatment directions. In SE-AN, distorted body image extends to a global distortion in the perception of self. Additional criteria for the severe and enduring stages of illness related to (1) self and identity processes (2) measures of ‘global impoverishment’ across life domains are proposed for consideration in the future testing of putative defining features of SE-AN.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 77%

Anorexia nervosa through the lens of a severe and enduring experience: ‘lost in a big world’

Kiely,

Conti,

Hay

2024

J Eat Disord

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“…Studies have underscored the effectiveness of arts therapies in treating a variety of difficulties [ 1 , 2 ], and suggest that arts therapies for children promote quality of life, reduce anxiety, and lead to improvement in self-perception, problem-solving skills, and emotional and behavioral problems [ 3 ]. In Israel, many arts therapists are employed by the education system [ 4 ] and most treatments provided through this system are delivered by arts therapists [ 5 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ultra-Orthodox Parents’ Perceptions of Arts Therapies for Their Children

Keidar

Snir²,

Regev³

et al. 2022

Children

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Studies have underscored the complexity of psychotherapy for Ultra-Orthodox Jews, and cross-cultural therapy in particular, which evokes fear of disruption of basic values. Parents’ sense of responsibility for their child’s religious education exacerbates these problems in child therapy. However, there is scant research on child therapy for the Ultra-Orthodox, especially in the field of arts therapies. The present study examined the perceptions of 17 Ultra-Orthodox parents whose children were receiving arts therapies (including art therapy, dance/movement therapy, music therapy, psychodrama and bibliotherapy). Semi-structured interviews were conducted with the parents and analyzed based on the principles of Consensual Qualitative Research. The study covered five domains: (1) The parents’ experiences in therapy; (2) The parents’ perceptions of the child’s experiences in therapy; (3) Implications of environmental-social factors on the parents’ perceptions and experiences of therapy; (4) Effects of intercultural aspects on therapy; (5) Perceptions of the use of the arts in therapy. The findings show that the experiences of ultra-Orthodox parents in the arts therapies of their children is complex due to the influence of the socio-cultural context, which involves dealing with stigma and tensions in their relationship with the education system. This context also shapes their perceptions of therapy, which can be characterized as purpose-oriented. The findings also highlight the parents’ challenges in coping with the intercultural therapeutic relationship, and emphasizes the parents’ preference for a therapist from a similar religious/cultural background and for cultural supervision of therapy. However, the results also suggest that there are benefits inherent to intercultural therapy in general and arts therapies in particular, including a sense of security, openness and acceptance of the parents and children.

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