Creative art therapy (CAT) for severe mental illness (SMI) represents an extremely heterogenous body of literature that encompasses the use of a large variety of creative mediums (i.e. visual art, music, dance, drama, writing) in the treatment of mental disorders. The present review provides a narrative summary of the findings on the use of CAT for the selected SMI, being: schizophrenia, trauma-related disorders, major depression, and bipolar disorder. A database search of PubMed and the Cochrane Library was conducted related to the use of CAT in the treatment of mental disorders published between January 2008 and March 2019. A total of 9697 citations were identiﬁed to match the search criteria and 86 full-texts were reviewed. Although literature suggests CAT to be a potentially low-risk and high benefit intervention to minimize symptoms and maximize functioning in individuals living with SMI, the lack of methodological rigor, and inconsistency in study methods and outcome measures have prevented the advancement of CAT for use in SMI. Although creation of a single CAT regimen for all psychiatric disorders stands neither practical nor advisable, greater standardization of methods would improve evaluation of CAT interventions. Future research should elucidate biological mechanisms underlying CAT methods.

Creative art therapy for mental illness.

Purpose of reviewArts therapies are still inadequately regulated throughout the world despite a 100-year-long tradition, a vast number of academically trained therapists and importance in treating psychiatric patients. It is essential that more evidence-based studies are undertaken.Recent findingsCu

Provision of arts therapies for people with severe mental illness.

Purpose: The purpose of this work was to review scientific publications related to the use of visual arts in pediatric hospitals Background: Visual arts, particularly painting, have historically played an important role in the design and atmosphere of healthcare spaces, especially hospitals Methods: From 2000 to 2019, 79 publications located in relevant databases and manual searches were identified and analyzed Results: Sixty of these publications include empirical studies and 19 theoretical models, comments, or reflections on the use of art in children’s hospitals Their analysis allows us to differentiate four groups of works: (a) “environmental” includes works whose purpose is to know how visual artistic interventions in the hospital can affect the people who see them, mainly pediatric patients, families, and health workers; (b) “participatory” includes studies aimed at knowing the effect of developing visual arts activities in the hospital; (c) “exploratory” includes works whose purpose was to know more about the children’s perspective using their artistic expressions; and (d) “diagnostic” includes those that use children’s drawings as a tool to diagnose diverse processes related to the pediatric patients’ experience Conclusions: Taken together, the works we analyzed in our study support the use of visual arts in hospitals as a resource to enhance the well-being of children and families and their experience in the hospital We indicate two particularly relevant aspects in this sense: the importance of the visual arts in improving the symbolic quality of hospitalization settings and the communication processes that occur in these environments

Visual Arts in Children's Hospitals: Scoping Review.

What is the role of the arts in healthcare related to young people⿿s mental health and wellbeing? How do we understand the interconnections of art, therapy and health and describe the projected benefits for young people⿿s mental health and wellbeing? Responding to these questions, this paper describes a youth arts project and research. Three stakeholder viewpoints, the artists, health workers and young people, are examined to draw out explanations and understandings of art, therapy, and health related to young people⿿s mental health in an Australian context. A synthesis of arts and health methodologies were used, including thematic analysis of interviews with participants. This paper investigates the ways in which participant descriptions entwined and blurred ideas and possibilities of practice across the art, therapy and health nexus. These viewpoints add up to much more than each one can offer in singularity. They reveal expanded perspectives with which to consider scope of practice, discipline boundaries, and research gaps pertaining to the role of the arts in youth-specific mental health services.

Arts, therapy, and health: Three stakeholder viewpoints related to young peoples mental health and wellbeing in Australia

There is an increasing attention to the phenomenon referred to as "twice exceptional" ("2e") children, namely, children who demonstrate both exceptional abilities and disabilities. In this essay, this concept is applied to delinquency and/or emotional-behavior disorder and gifts (talents) in the performance arts, exploring the presence of this association and the support for it in the literature. The essay asserts that this association does exist, qualifies these youth as another category of 2e students, and calls for research on the manifestation, etiology, and development of this co-occurrence.

Twice Exceptional Students: Gifts and Talents, the Performing Arts, and Juvenile Delinquency.

Objective:To describe a mural art therapy project completed within an adolescent unit of a secure forensic psychiatric hospital.Method:The planning, implementation and consecutive stages of the mural art therapy project are described. Pertinent themes are identified.Results:A cohort of adolescent forensic inpatients was engaged in a group therapeutic process involving collaboration, design and the completion of an art mural. The participants generally approved of the project and identified themes of gaining a sense of achievement, empowerment, teamwork, involvement and ownership. The art mural transformed and improved the visual and spatial environment of the Adolescent unit courtyard.Conclusions:Mural art therapy was acceptable to young offenders hospitalised with mental illness, which has relevance for adolescent psychiatric units and youth detention centres.

Oleen George

Papers

Mural art therapy for young offenders hospitalised with a mental illness.