Effects of art therapy program on anxiety and depression among 6-12-year-old burned children

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: There are various ways to relieve physical injuries, but less attention has been dedicated to the treatment of psychological injuries in burned children. AIM: The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of art therapy using painting and music on reducing anxiety and depression in burned children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was a three-group randomized clinical trial with a pre-test-post-test design that was performed on 60 children aged 6–12 years. The patients were admitted to the Burn Center of Imam Reza Hospital, Mashhad, Iran, within 2018 were selected using convenience sampling method and randomly divided into three groups, namely, two intervention (subjected to art and music) and one control group. Ten 45-min-long art therapy sessions were conducted every day. Anxiety was measured with parent-version of the Spence Children’s Anxiety Scale, and depression was measured using Maria Kovacs Children’s Depression Inventory Questionnaire. The control group only benefited from the routine services of the center. RESULTS: Before the intervention, the total mean scores of anxiety in the burned children in the painting, music, and control groups were measured at 90.4 ± 5.4, 84.8 ± 6.8, and 77.4 ± 13.8, respectively. However, the total mean scores of anxiety after the intervention in the burned children in the painting, music, and control groups were estimated at 53.3 ± 4.4, 45.9 ± 8.4, and 72.4 ± 12.9, respectively (p < 0.001). Furthermore, the mean of depression total score before the intervention was measured at 38.7 ± 3.4, 32.8 ± 5.4, and 28.9 ± 5.4, for painting, music, and control groups, respectively (p < 0.001). Moreover, the total mean score of depression after the intervention in the painting, music, and control groups was obtained as 29.9 ± 4.0, 19.3 ± 3.8, and 25.2 ± 4.9, respectively (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Art therapy using painting and music led to the reduction of anxiety and depression in children with burns; therefore, it is recommended to use the technique for this population.