Art therapy for children and adolescents with autism: a systematic review

Abstract

Background: Children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) experience a variety of social, behavioural and motor symptoms that impact their daily life. The benefits of art therapy (AT) have been demonstrated with other populations. Aims: This review aimed to investigate the effectiveness of AT for children and adolescents with ASD. Methods: Following best practice standards in the conduct of systematic reviews, a comprehensive search of MEDLINE, Emcare, Embase, Cochrane Library, PsycINFO, OTseeker and Education Resources Information Center databases and grey literature was conducted in February 2023. Two reviewers independently undertook a two-stage literature screening process. The McMaster critical appraisal tool was utilised to determine the methodological quality of the included studies. A narrative synthesis was used to synthesise the results. Results: Seven studies of varying methodological quality were included in this review. The modality and parameters of AT varied between studies, as did measures of outcomes. However, improvements in social skills (communication, interpersonal relationships and social behaviour), behavioural skills (hyperactivity/inattention and assertion) and motor skills (fine motor skills, balance and flexibility) were reported in the literature. Conclusions: While AT may offer positive improvements of ASD symptoms for children and adolescents, further methodologically rigorous research is required to substantiate these findings. Implications: The use of AT in clinical practice should be underpinned by sound clinical reasoning and use of robust outcome measures to evaluate the impact of such interventions.