Creative Art Therapy for Improving Depression, Anxiety, and Stress in Patients with Stroke: A Quasi-Interventional Study

Abstract

Introduction: Creative art therapy is a psychotherapeutic approach used to enhance the mental health status of patients. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of creative art therapy on the levels of depression, anxiety, and stress in Jordanian patients following stroke. Methods: One-group pretest–posttest design was used; it included four sessions of creative art therapy which were conducted as two sessions for two weeks. This study recruited 85 participants who were within three months poststroke diagnosis. The Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale was used to assess the levels of psychological reactions pre and post creative art therapy intervention. Results: The data showed that there was a statistically significant improvement in the levels of depression (t = 37.98; p