An example of how headlines can be misleading, because as it turns out the results of a study published in the British Journal of Medicine show that no intervention improved the outcomes of the subjects who suffered from Schizophrenia. Those who received standard care, standard care + weekly group art therapy or standard care + activity groups had the same outcomes.
People offered a place in an art therapy group were more likely to attend sessions than those offered a place in an activity group, but levels of attendance at both types of group were low.
Well…I would like to know what the results are for the people who did attend the weekly art therapy sessions vs those who weren’t assigned to art therapy or those who were assigned but simply didn’t come. Maybe art therapy does have a positive effect for those who are organized enough to make it there. Perhaps group attendance (and therefore outcomes) would have been more successful if members had extra support to show up to their out-patient groups.
Many groups had only one or two regular attendees, with an average of two or three people attending art therapy groups. Although this meant that therapists may have been able to pay greater attention to each participant than would have been possible in a larger group, opportunities for group members to interact with each other were more limited.
If many groups have only one or two people, it doesn’t sound like this study successfully evaluated group art therapy and its effects on socialization. And, if it’s so difficult to get a community-based group together that’s comprised of more than 2 people, it maybe worthwhile to refer (and study) those diagnosed with Schizophrenia to a group with a variety of diagnoses.
It’s also worth mentioning that art therapy is more than just an activity. Even if no increases in social functioning or mental health was detected, art therapists also are trained to monitor their clients. Oftentimes signs that a client maybe relapsing show up in the artwork first. Art therapy has more value than simply improving mental health functioning – it’s a first line defense to encourage a client to seek help from a Psychiatrist, for example, before things get out of control. Or perhaps, the art therapist may find out that a client stopped taking his medication all together. Either way, as a part of an overall out-patient treatment team, the art therapist can provide essential information to other mental health practitioners and social workers re: what is going on with the client before things fall apart.
Put that in your research and study it! Seriously. I’d love to see the outcomes.