Art therapy in people with schizophrenia: An article review

Background and Aim : Art making is a way for the expression of deep and intense emotions. The client has an opportunity to express and externalize his or her inner thoughts and feelings related to the traumatic experience as well as the opportunity to process these thoughts and feelings. Art making in a therapeutic environment can create permanent changes in neural network connections as well as neuroplasticity, besides art therapy for persons with schizophrenia, is a healthy form of distraction from various symptoms, such as disturbing thoughts, hearing voices, etc.Methods : A systematic search involved looking at the following databases: ProQuest, Pub Med, MEDLINE, and Google Scholars. The following terms were used to commence the search: schizophreniform, paranoid, schizoid, schizotypal, art therapy, creative art therapy, and schizophrenia. 25 articles from 1998 – 2018 were initially identified. Finally, 10 studies were selected.Results : All 10 articles used group art therapy but each study had a different focus. 9 studies showed positive changes due to the expressive art therapy group. 1 research indicated that art therapy as delivered in this trial did not improve global functioning, mental health, or other health-related outcomes.Conclusion : It seems that art therapy can help people with schizophrenia to create positive changes in personal and social life like improving coping skills, problem-solving skills, emotional awareness. etc.

کلیدواژه ها:

Schizophrenia ، art therapy ، art psychotherapy ، creative art therapy