Role of Art Therapy in Mental Health Rehabilitation: Evidence from Clinical Interventions.

Abstract

Art therapy can be described as one of the most efficient methods of treating mental health disorders and a form of communication that does not entail the use of language. Therefore, this work aimed to evaluate the efficiency of art therapy in the context of mental rehabilitation considering the description of clinical practice. The subjects in this study participated in various forms of art therapy including visual art, music, and dance for six months employing mixed-method research. The results of the analysis of qualitative data were the identification of the following main topics: individuality, assertiveness, and catharsis. The quantitative results also showed an improvement in the participants’ mental health concerning PTSD, anxiety, and depression symptoms. Therefore, the findings of the study show the potential of art therapy, although there were some shortcomings, including the participants’ attrition and variability of the number of attendees. According to the authors, art therapy should be included in the treatment plans, and there should be a specific protocol and collaboration with other workers to improve the patient’s quality of life. The next research should therefore be longitudinal in a bid to establish the long-term therapeutic effects of such treatments.