Using Art Therapy to Address Cognitive Symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease

Abstract

Parkinson’s disease affects millions of individuals worldwide. The physical symptoms of PD are devastating. In the same sense, the cognitive symptoms of PD also have a profound effect on afflicted individuals. This study examined the cognitive impairments of Parkinson’s disease and how they can be treated using art therapy. The author of this study met with one individual who suffered from cognitive impairment due to Parkinson’s disease. The two met for eight sessions over a six-week period. During this time, an A-B-A single-subject research design was established, with multiple baselines. Over the course of six weeks, the participant partook in various art therapy directives. The results of this study indicated that art therapy helped decrease the participant’s level of depression and helped maintain the participant’s current level of dementia, partially supporting this research study’s hypothesis. The results of this study underscore the need for further research in this area.

Creative Arts Interventions to Address Depression in Older Adults: A Systematic Review of Outcomes, Processes, and Mechanisms

“…Seventeen art studies from an initial sample of 34 met all inclusion criteria as detailed in Table 1. Methodological approaches of these comprised: five qualitative studies, mostly individual case studies (de Guzman et al, 2011; Hoffmann, 2013) and interview methods; three mixed-methods; and nine quantitative studies, including comparisons of art therapy with other health interventions such as walking, music therapy, exercise, nature-based therapies, and community craft activities. Depression was addressed as a primary symptom (5/17); and as a co-morbid condition with Parkinson's disease (1/17), stroke (2/17), and dementia (2/17).…”

“…Interventions were typically offered as group format, with specific attention provided by therapists to individual group members. Two interventions were one on one programs (de Guzman et al, 2011; Hoffmann, 2013).…”

“…Based on the processes identified in the literature, we propose that the mechanisms of a change for depressive symptoms through art interventions are: Physical: engagement in a creative activity that had physical aspects was seen to catalyze relaxation and reduction of stress (Canuto et al, 2008; Goldblatt et al, 2010; Lam, 2015; Hsu et al, 2017)Cultural: the making of art was seen to facilitate creative expression and play (de Guzman et al, 2011; Kim H.-K. et al, 2016); the use of context-responsive creative expression was seen as significant; creative expression was enabled by use of accessible media of clay and painting (Goldblatt et al, 2010); evocation of familiarity and positive memories was catalyzed by use of culturally appropriate traditional crafts and arts (de Guzman et al, 2011; Ciasca et al, 2018)Emotional/intrapersonal: creation of art products was seen to provide valuable distance, and enable externalization and visual communication of inner subjective experiences (Goldblatt et al, 2010; Kang et al, 2010; Drăghici, 2012; Choi and Jeon, 2013; Ali et al, 2014; Im and Lee, 2014; Hsu et al, 2017; Ciasca et al, 2018); expression of positive and negative emotions (Kang et al, 2010; Ali et al, 2014; Im and Lee, 2014; Kim H.-K. et al, 2016; Kongkasuwan et al, 2016); promotion of autonomy (Doric-Henry, 1997; Canuto et al, 2008; Goldblatt et al, 2010; Ceramidas, 2012; Kongkasuwan et al, 2016); and positive views of self (Canuto et al, 2008; de Guzman et al, 2011; Drăghici, 2012; Rawtaer et al, 2015; Kongkasuwan et al, 2016; Ciasca et al, 2018); agency and mastery was seen to be strengthened by the act of completing an art piece (Doric-Henry, 1997; de Guzman et al, 2011; Hoffmann, 2013; Lam, 2015; Ciasca et al, 2018)Cognitive: art-making was seen to enable: reinforcement and recall of positive memories (Canuto et al, 2008; Choi and Jeon, 2013; Hoffmann, 2013; Kim H.-K. et al, 2016); addressing of concerns around death, loss and end of life (de Guzman et al, 2011; Ali et al, 2014); and distraction from ruminative thoughts (Goldblatt et al, 2010; Ciasca et al, 2018)Interpersonal: group work (with or without therapist's involvement) was seen to encourage socialization and sharing (Canuto et al, 2008; de Guzman et al, …”

“…Emotional/intrapersonal: creation of art products was seen to provide valuable distance, and enable externalization and visual communication of inner subjective experiences (Goldblatt et al, 2010; Kang et al, 2010; Drăghici, 2012; Choi and Jeon, 2013; Ali et al, 2014; Im and Lee, 2014; Hsu et al, 2017; Ciasca et al, 2018); expression of positive and negative emotions (Kang et al, 2010; Ali et al, 2014; Im and Lee, 2014; Kim H.-K. et al, 2016; Kongkasuwan et al, 2016); promotion of autonomy (Doric-Henry, 1997; Canuto et al, 2008; Goldblatt et al, 2010; Ceramidas, 2012; Kongkasuwan et al, 2016); and positive views of self (Canuto et al, 2008; de Guzman et al, 2011; Drăghici, 2012; Rawtaer et al, 2015; Kongkasuwan et al, 2016; Ciasca et al, 2018); agency and mastery was seen to be strengthened by the act of completing an art piece (Doric-Henry, 1997; de Guzman et al, 2011; Hoffmann, 2013; Lam, 2015; Ciasca et al, 2018)…”

“…Cognitive: art-making was seen to enable: reinforcement and recall of positive memories (Canuto et al, 2008; Choi and Jeon, 2013; Hoffmann, 2013; Kim H.-K. et al, 2016); addressing of concerns around death, loss and end of life (de Guzman et al, 2011; Ali et al, 2014); and distraction from ruminative thoughts (Goldblatt et al, 2010; Ciasca et al, 2018)…”