Search Results (8)

Background: Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a complex psychiatric disorder that requires a multidisciplinary approach. The World Health Organization recognizes the therapeutic value of expressive arts, including drama, in enhancing emotional, cognitive, and relational domains in severe mental illnesses such as AN. Expressive arts interventions may improve emotional intelligence, empathy, and self-awareness while reducing anxiety and alexithymia. This study evaluated the impact of an adjunctive expressive arts program on alexithymia in pediatric inpatients with AN. Methods: We enrolled patients aged 11–18 years hospitalized for AN, according to the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revision, at the Pediatric Unit of Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Rome. The study period ran from December 2024 to April 2025. Participants attended drama therapy sessions and expressive arts workshops in a dedicated recreational space integrated into a multidisciplinary treatment plan. Alexithymia was assessed at admission and discharge using the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), with scores ≥ 61 indicating alexithymia. At the end of the program, participants completed a semi-structured satisfaction questionnaire to evaluate subjective experiences and mood. Results: Thirty patients met inclusion criteria. The TAS-20 scores were statistically different between pre-/post-theater activity (p < 0.001). The proportion of alexithymic participants declined from 73.3% at baseline to 26.7% at discharge. Most participants reported mood improvements: 66.6% “somewhat” and 26.7% “greatly.” Additionally, 90% reported improved peer relationships. Conclusions: Expressive arts, particularly drama-based interventions, may represent an effective adjunctive therapy for adolescents with AN, supporting emotional awareness, self-regulation, and social connectedness. Arts-based interventions are associated with nonverbal avenues for emotional processing and may promote neuroplasticity, representing valuable complementary strategies for AN treatment. Full article

Refugee mothers are at heightened risk of developing negative family dynamics due to traumatic experiences and unstable living conditions, often impacting their children in lasting ways. This partially mixed, explanatory mixed-methods pilot study examines the potential of Drama Therapy as a psychosocial intervention to reduce harmful parenting behaviors and strengthen parent–child relationships. The study engaged 20 refugee mothers who participated in a three-session intervention based on Emunah’s five-phase model. Data collection included pre-intervention demographic information, two standardized psychological scales—The Child–Parent Relationship Scale and the Parent Anger Scale—and post-intervention focus group discussions. The findings indicate that the Drama Therapy Intervention (DTI) helped reduce parental anger and improve emotional regulation, leading to more positive interactions with children and decreased conflict within the family. Focus group insights revealed that the mothers’ ongoing and past traumas significantly shaped their emotional responses and parenting styles. This pilot study highlights the importance of addressing maternal mental health in post-displacement contexts. Although one cannot draw causal inferences of efficacy in the absence of a control group, the findings provide preliminary evidence that Drama Therapy can be an effective tool for reducing parental maltreatment and improving family relationships among refugee populations. Full article

Limitations in some emotional characteristics that are conceptualized in the definition of emotional intelligence can be seen among people with autism spectrum disorder. The main objective of this study is the analysis of the effectiveness of interventions directed to enhance emotional recognition and emotional regulation among this specific population. A systematic review was carried out in databases such as Psycinfo, WoS, SCOPUS, and PubMed, identifying a total of 572 articles, of which 29 met the inclusion criteria. The total sample included 1061 participants, mainly children aged between 4 and 13 years. The analyzed interventions focused on improving emotional recognition, with significant results in the identification of emotions such as happiness, sadness, and anger, although some showed limitations in the duration of these effects. The most used programs included training in facial recognition, virtual reality, and the use of new technologies such as robots. These showed improvements in both emotional recognition and social skills. Other types of interventions such as music therapy or the use of drama techniques were also implemented. However, a gender bias and lack of consistency between results from different cultures were observed. The conclusions indicate that, although the interventions reviewed seem effective, more research is needed to maximize their impact on the ASD population. Full article

An increasing number of health professionals advocate for psychosocial attention as a vital part of treating mental health illnesses and not only a pharmacological intervention. Drama therapy offers a space where patients can improve socially, physically, and mentally, thus reaching a complete state of wellbeing. So, we aimed to design and evaluate a drama therapy program to develop assertiveness, quality of life, and social interaction in patients suffering from mental health decline. The study was performed under a participatory action design and a critical focus using a case study methodology that required a pretest–posttest and tracking of activities during the whole process. The results suggest that there was a rise in social interactions, an improvement in the quality of life and, significantly, assertiveness, perception of dependency, and isolation. The program improves the assertiveness of the participants and helps a person to feel less isolated and more independent. We conclude that the creation works help them to know themselves and favors their improvement. Full article

The COVID-19 pandemic led to psychological distress among children and adolescents. Due to multiple psychosocial burdens, the youth in residential care were especially exposed to an increased risk of mental health problems during the pandemic. In a multi-center, single-arm feasibility trial, N = 45 children and adolescents aged 7–14 years were allocated to a 6-week blended care intervention, conducted in six outpatient residential child welfare facilities. The intervention covered a once weekly face-to-face group session for guided creative (art therapy, drama therapy) and movement-oriented (children’s yoga, nature therapy) activities. This was accompanied by a resilience-oriented mental-health app. Feasibility and acceptance analyses covered app usage data and qualitative data. Effectiveness was determined by pre-post comparisons in quantitative data on psychological symptoms and resources. Further, subgroups for poorer treatment outcome were explored. The intervention and app were considered to be feasible and were accepted by residential staff and the children. No significant pre-post changes were found across quantitative outcomes. However, being female, being in current psychosocial crisis, a migration background, or a mentally ill parent were correlated with change in score of outcomes from baseline. These preliminary findings pave the way for future research on blended care interventions among at-risk children and adolescents. Full article

Arts therapies (AsTs) are considered a valuable intervention for people with eating disorders, however the range of research studies and the comparison between the types of arts therapies are unknown. The goal of the future scoping review is to explore the therapeutic outcomes addressed by arts therapists in research studies on people with eating disorders and compare the different types of arts-based interventions. This scoping review will be conducted in accordance with the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology. Included will be research studies and sources oriented towards people with eating disorders of all ages and AsTs of any type (art therapy, drama therapy, music therapy, dance/movement therapy, and expressive therapies). There is no language/publication period limitation. The following databases will be searched: CINAHL Plus, EMBASE, MEDLINE (OvidSP), ProQuest Central, PsycINFO, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. Sources of unpublished studies and grey literature will include Google Scholar, MedNar, clinical trials, and current controlled trials. Titles/abstracts and full texts of studies will be assessed against the inclusion criteria, and the data extracted by two independent reviewers. Based on the results, we will compare the types of AsTs according to the research designs, country/settings, intervention methods/materials, adverse effects reported, and therapeutic outcomes related to AsTs. Full article

Stress is one of the world’s largest health problems, leading to exhaustion, burnout, anxiety, a weak immune system, or even organ damage. In Germany, stress-induced work absenteeism costs about 20 billion Euros per year. Therefore, it is not surprising that the Central Federal Association of the public Health Insurance Funds in Germany ascribes particular importance to stress prevention and stress management as well as health enhancing measures. Building on current integrative and embodied stress theories, Creative Arts Therapies (CATs) or arts interventions are an innovative way to prevent stress and improve stress management. CATs encompass art, music, dance/movement, and drama therapy as their four major modalities. In order to obtain an overview of CATs and arts interventions’ efficacy in the context of stress reduction and management, we conducted a systematic review with a search in the following data bases: Academic Search Complete, ERIC, Medline, Psyndex, PsycINFO and SocINDEX. Studies were included employing the PICOS principle and rated according to their evidence level. We included 37 studies, 73% of which were randomized controlled trials. 81.1% of the included studies reported a significant reduction of stress in the participants due to interventions of one of the four arts modalities. Full article

Creation is an important part of many interventions in creative arts therapies (art, music, dance, and drama therapy). This active part of art-making in arts therapies has not yet been closely investigated. The present study commits to this field of research using a mixed-methods design to investigate the effects of active creation on health-related psychological outcomes. In an artistic inquiry within an experimental design, N = 44 participants engaged in active art-making for eight minutes in the presence of the researcher (first author) with a choice of artistic materials: paper and colors for drawing and writing, musical instruments, space for moving or performing. Before and after the creation, participants completed a well-being, a self-efficacy and an experience of creation scale, and in addition found their own words to express the experiences during the activity. We hypothesized that the experience of empowerment, freedom, impact, and creativity (Experience of Creation Scale) mediates the positive effect of active creation on the outcomes of self-efficacy and well-being, and evaluated this assumption with a mediation analysis. Results suggest that the effect of active creation on both self-efficacy and well-being is significantly mediated by the Experience of Creation Scale. This article focuses on the quantitative side of the investigation. During the process, qualitative and quantitative results were triangulated for a more valid evaluation and jointly contribute to the emerging theory frame of embodied aesthetics. Full article