| Abstract [eng] |
The aim of the research: to reveal and evaluate the experience and impact of art therapy for patients with mental health disorders receiving psychosocial rehabilitation services in inpatient care. Research objectives: 1. To analyze existing research on the application of art therapy to patients with mental health disorders. 2. To evaluate the experience of patients with mental health disorders who participated in art therapy. 3. To assess the effect of art therapy on patients with mental health disorders. Research questions: 1. How are the experiences of persons with mental health disorders revealed through the formal elements of visual expression in art therapy work? 2. How are the experiences of persons with mental health disorders revealed in their reflections and interviews? 3. How do the formal elements of visual expression relate to thematic analysis data? Research methods: mixed methods. The research participants‘ experience is assessed through interviews, as well as additional methods of data collection - reflections during therapy and drawings; impact is assessed by completed questionnaires and scales. In this study, the following scales were used to measure each aspect before and after conducted art therapy: • Reactions to Mental Health Worries Questionnaire; • Warwick – Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale, WEMWBS. Research participants: 17 adults receiving treatment at one of the Vilnius mental health centers and getting psychosocial rehabilitation services in inpatient care took part in the study. They filled out questionnaires before and after art therapy, of which 3 cases will be analyzed in more detail (provided by the participants who agreed to give an interview, as well as were able to express their thoughts freely verbally). Conclusions: 1. Due to the short duration of the art therapy intervention and the small sample size, both the Reactions to Mental Health Worries Questionnaire and the Warwick – Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale did not show statistically significant changes (p>0.05). 2. The thematic analysis revealed that both positive and negative aspects of life were evaluated during art therapy, but in both cases the benefits of art therapy were felt. Formed meta-themes were "Difficulties and needs", which expressed the ability to name and understand the needs and difficulties faced; "Relationship with yourself and your loved ones", which expressed the relationship with oneself and their loved ones, its given opportunity to assess personal resources and the importance of support from others during a difficult period; "Benefits of art therapy", which expressed the function of art therapy as a reflection of personality and life, the importance of the safe space provided by art therapy, and the incentive to improve and to develop relationships provided by art therapy. 3. The experiences of the subjects are reflected by the following formal elements of the drawings that are repeated in the works of all the participants: the central composition expresses the personality and the themes important at the time; the image of a person's "I" reflects the person himself and his relationship with a certain subject; natural motifs express rebirth, beauty. 4. All the formal elements that emerged were related to the experiences of the research participants, which emerged in the thematic analysis. However, it is difficult to assess the connection of specific formal elements with some single topic. Recommendations: 1. To apply art therapy to people with mental health disorders in order to improve their emotional state. 2. To apply group art therapy, as it promotes socialization and reduces the feeling of loneliness. 3. To encourage experimentation with tools and techniques, it encourages leaving the comfort zone in a safe space and is liberating. 4. To extend the time of art therapy sessions - it is difficult to listen to all reflections during a 1-hour session, and warm-up exercises have to be abandoned. |
