The Use of Family Drawings by Children in Pediatric Practice

Stein, Martin T.

doi:10.1097/00004703-199710000-00009

Cited by 10 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…Drawings often reveal the thoughts, hopes and experiences that the children themselves may be unable to understand and express, and reflect conscious or unconscious fears and anxieties aroused by acute encounters. Children's drawings serve as an informative resource for capturing experiences and emotions which otherwise might never come to light (Stein, 2001) and give a voice and agency for hospitalized children. Several studies have proven that drawing facilitates children's recall of events, especially painful memories which otherwise would be difficult to share with others (Pipe et al, 2002;Stafstrom et al, 2002;Wesson and Salmon, 2001).…”

Section: Pain and Expression Of Pain-related Emotionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hospitalized children drawing their pain: the contents and cognitive and emotional characteristics of pain drawings

Kortesluoma

Punamäki

Nikkonen

2008

J Child Health Care

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Describing pain is difficult. Children like to draw, and through their drawing they reveal worrying issues. This study aimed to examine how hospitalized children express pain through drawings, and was carried out by examining children's thematic drawings of pain. A comparison was made between hospitalized children and healthy control groups with respect to the thematic contents and cognitive and emotional characteristics of pain drawings. The drawings were sorted in categories on the basis of content, and cognitive competence and emotional disturbances by the Draw-a-Person procedure. The hospitalized children showed a lower level of cognitive capacity than their healthy controls. The control group children revealed a higher level of emotional disturbance than the hospitalized children. The groups differed in the contents of their drawings. The drawings of the hospitalized children frequently depicted medical procedures, whereas the drawings of the healthy controls depicted more consoling human and family relations.

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Section: Pain and Expression Of Pain-related Emotionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hospitalized children drawing their pain: the contents and cognitive and emotional characteristics of pain drawings

Kortesluoma

Punamäki

Nikkonen

2008

J Child Health Care

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“…Even with her limited cognitive ability, a drawing may have revealed a clue to her emotional state. 3 …”

Section: Martin T Stein MDmentioning

confidence: 99%

Developmental Regression, Depression, and Psychosocial Stress in an Adolescent with Down Syndrome

Stein

Münir

Karweck³

et al. 2013

Journal of Developmental &Amp; Behavioral Pediatrics

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CASE: Kristen is a 13-year-old girl with Down syndrome (DS) who was seen urgently with concerns of cognitive and developmental regression including loss of language, social, and toileting skills. The evaluation in the DS clinic focused on potential medical diagnoses including atlantoaxial joint instability, vitamin deficiency, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and seizures. A comprehensive medical evaluation yielded only a finding of moderate OSA. A reactive depression was considered in association with several psychosocial factors including moving homes, entering puberty/onset of menses, and classroom change from an integrated setting to a self-contained classroom comprising unfamiliar peers with behavior challenges. Urgent referrals for psychological and psychiatric evaluations were initiated. Neuropsychological testing did not suggest true regression in cognitive, language, and academic skills, although decreases in motivation and performance were noted with a reaction to stress and multiple environmental changes as a potential causative factor. Psychiatry consultation supported this finding in that psychosocial stress temporally correlated with Kristen’s regression in skills. Working collaboratively, the team determined that Kristen’s presentation was consistent with a reactive form of depression (DSM-IV-TR: depressive disorder, not otherwise specified). Kristen’s presentation was exacerbated by salient environmental stress and sleep apnea, rather than a cognitive regression associated with a medical cause. Treatment consisted of an antidepressant medication, continuous positive airway pressure for OSA, and increased psychosocial supports. Her school initiated a change in classroom placement. With this multimodal approach to evaluation and intervention, Kristen steadily improved and she returned to her baseline function.

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“…In the familiar 'draw a family picture', 'kinetic family drawing' and the 'drawing up of boundaries' (Burns and Kaufman, 1971;Wilkinson, 1985) objects and figures are represented and interpreted. While 'naive observers' can successfully distinguish important elements in children's drawings (Stein, 2001), interpretation of such complex material requires caution. Restricting the assessment to specific elements of children's drawings has proven useful, both clinically and in research: Roe et al (2006) demonstrated that a young child's exclusion of family members from a family drawing, as well as placement of the parents together or apart, are stable features over time which predict adjustment.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Drawing a family map: an experiential tool for engaging children in family therapy

Dumont

2008

Journal of Family Therapy

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Inclusion of children in the treatment process is a central aspect of the discipline of family therapy. Young children's verbal skill and level of abstraction may not be suited to ‘talking therapy’, but they have an intuitive grasp of family life which is invaluable, and their views and needs should be considered when effecting change in the family system. A method is offered to engage young children, adolescents and adults of divergent verbal skills into a shared process. It requires no special set‐up or tools, only paper and markers. Distance and proximity are represented in a simple map of the family, adding symbols for affection and conflict. A spatial representation of the family system is created, and may be referred to in the course of the therapy.

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The Use of Family Drawings by Children in Pediatric Practice

Cited by 10 publications

References 7 publications

Hospitalized children drawing their pain: the contents and cognitive and emotional characteristics of pain drawings

Hospitalized children drawing their pain: the contents and cognitive and emotional characteristics of pain drawings

Developmental Regression, Depression, and Psychosocial Stress in an Adolescent with Down Syndrome

Drawing a family map: an experiential tool for engaging children in family therapy

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