Citation

Blomdahl C, Guregård S, Rusner M, Wijk H. Art Therapy 2022; 39(1): 13-23.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2022, American Art Therapy Association)

DOI

10.1080/07421656.2021.1922328

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Manual-based phenomenological art therapy (PATd) was developed to facilitate recovery from depression. The study's aim was to investigate whether improvements were maintained 6 months after PATd was completed. In a randomized controlled study design, persons diagnosed with moderate or severe depression (n = 85) were invited to take part; n = 79 participated and were allocated either to intervention (n = 43) or control (n = 36). The control group received treatment as usual, while the intervention received PATd in addition to treatment as usual. Wilcoxon Signed Rank tests, t-tests, and regression models were employed. Reduced depression, improvements in self-esteem, suicide ideation, and returning to work were sustained in the 6-month follow-up. This study indicates that PATd supports more rapid recovery, while improvement is sustained over time. © 2021 The Authors. Published with license by Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.

Language: en

Keywords

mental health; evaluation; major depression; Art therapy; RCT