The Outcome of Short‐term Psychodynamic Art Therapy Compared to Short‐term Psychodynamic Verbal Therapy for Depressed Women

Abstract

The primary aim of this randomized controlled clinical trial was to compare the outcome from two types of short-term psychodynamic psychotherapy. The participants were thirtynine women with depression. Half of the participants (n518) received art psychotherapy and the other half received verbal psychotherapy (n521). Data was collected before and after psychotherapy, and at a 3-month follow-up using self-rating scales and interviewer-based ratings. Results showed that art and verbal psychotherapies were comparable, and at follow-up, the average participant in both groups had few depressive symptoms and stress-related symptoms. The conclusion was that short-term psychodynamic art therapy could be a valuable treatment for depressed women.Depressive disorders account for more than 11% of the total number of years lived with disability in the world (Ü stün et al. 2004). During recent decades, a growing proportion of Swedish adults experience depressive symptoms, anxiety, elevated stress, and interpersonal problems.Many studies have shown that there are clear gender differences in prevalence as well as frequency and intensity of depression (Nolen-Hoeksema et al. 1999). Factors associated with depression, which are more likely to affect women than men, are low social status, and learned helplessness, generated by a lack of control over their life. A related factor is that the traditional work of women -rearing children and doing housework -often goes unrecognized (Jack 1991).A fourth significant factor is how depressed people manage their symptoms. Studies have shown that women tend to ruminate over their problem to a Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy ISSN 0266-8734 print/ISSN 1474-9734 online # 2007 The Association for Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy in the NHS

Evaluation of a brief art psychotherapy group for adults suffering from mild to moderate depression: Pilot pre, post and follow-up study

“…Similar results were obtained from a number of arts therapies studies (Erkkilä et al, 2011;Jeong et al, 2005;Thyme et al, 2007). While the current study did not include a control group, it may not be concluded with certainty whether this effect occurred as an implication to the therapy or whether it was due to other reasons, including a possible spontaneous recovery from depression (Ankarberg & Falkenström, 2008).…”

Systematic review and economic modelling of the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of art therapy among people with non-psychotic mental health disorders

“…[47][48][49] Of these three studies, only one was conducted in adults. 47 In the remaining 12 studies, the study population comprised individuals without a formal mental health diagnosis.…”

“…[47][48][49] Of these three studies, only one was conducted in adults. 47 In the remaining 12 studies, the study population comprised individuals without a formal mental health diagnosis. [49][50][51][52][53][54][55][56][57][58][59]61,62 The populations in these studies are, therefore, mainly people with long-term medical conditions which are not reported to be accompanied by a mental health diagnosis; however, outcomes targeted in these studies were mental health symptoms.…”

“…50,53 One study was reported in two sources as using a 'registered' art 60,61 One study reported using 'experienced art psychotherapists'. 47 Four studies simply stated 'art therapist' without reference to accreditation. 49,52,58,59 One study stated that the sessions were run by one artist and two speech therapists.…”

“…56 Two studies did not state explicitly if sessions were in a group or individual. 47,53 Three studies with no active control were group art therapy 58,59,61 and three studies were individual art therapy. 49,55,62 The symptoms or outcome domains under investigation and associated outcome measures are reported in Table 6.…”