Anxiety reduction through art therapy in women. Exploring stress regulation and executive functioning as underlying neurocognitive mechanisms.

Annemarie Abbing, Leo de Sonneville, Erik Baars, Daniëlle Bourne, Hanna Swaab

Journal: PloS one 2020;14(12):e0225200

PMID: 31794566

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Plain Language Summary

Anxiety treatments currently involve medication and changing an individual’s beliefs through cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). Art therapy (AT) is often used as a CBT treatment strategy, although little is known about its effectiveness. This randomised control trial of 47 adult women with anxiety aimed to understand the role of AT in anxiety treatment over three months. The results showed improvements in self-reported measures of anxiety, the ability to control emotions, memory and the ability to manage tasks with AT, however subjects were just as susceptible to stress following treatment. It was concluded that anxiety reduction was related to improvements in emotions, memory and task management and this was as a result of AT. This study could be used by healthcare professionals to recommend AT to individuals with symptoms of anxiety as part of their treatment management plan.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES

To explore possible working mechanisms of anxiety reduction in women with anxiety disorders, treated with art therapy (AT).

METHODS

A RCT comparing AT versus waiting list (WL) condition on aspects of self-regulation. Stress regulation (heart rate and heart rate variability) and executive functioning (daily behavioural and cognitive performance aspects of executive functioning (EF)) were evaluated in a pre-post design. Participants were women, aged 18-65 years with moderate to severe anxiety symptoms.

RESULTS

Effectiveness of AT compared to WL was demonstrated in a higher resting HRV post treatment, improvements in aspects of self-reported daily EF (emotion control, working memory, plan/organize and task monitor), but not in cognitive performance of EF, stress responsiveness and down regulation of stress. The decrease in anxiety level was associated with improvements in self-reported daily EF.

CONCLUSIONS

AT improves resting HRV and aspects of EF, the latter was associated with art therapy-related anxiety reduction.

Address: Faculty of Health, University of Applied Sciences Leiden, Leiden, The Netherlands.; Clinical Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands.; Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden, The Netherlands.; Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0225200

Patient Centred Factor

Mediators: Anxiety

Physical Environment

Mind and spirit

Clinical Imbalances

Hormonal Neurological

Modifiable Lifestyle Factors

Stress, Relaxation, Resilience Psychological

Jadad Score

Allocation Concealment

Nutrition Evidence Keywords

Stress Anxiety CBT Cognitive behavioural therapy Art therapy

Link outs

Free resources

Full Text Sources:

Medical:

https://medlineplus.gov/anxiety.html

MeSH Terms: Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Anxiety, Anxiety Disorders, Art Therapy, Cognition, Executive Function, Female, Heart Rate, Humans, Middle Aged, Neuropsychological Tests, Stress, Psychological, Young Adult