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Expressive psychiatry: "Art as Therapy". The Sources and Applications

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Expressive psychiatry: “Art as Therapy”. The Sources and Applications

Francesco Franza a,b,c, *
a Psychiatric Rehabilitation Center “Villa dei Pini”, Avellino – Italy
b Psychiatric Studies Centre (Cen.Stu.Psi.)Provaglio d’Iseo (BS) - Italy
c Neamente Association, Mercogliano (AV) - Italy

H I H G L I G H T S

• Art Therapy as a form of psychotherapy has been practiced for over 60 years.
• • The compensatory power of art acts on individual emotional and psychological fragility.
• • In the history of Man, art has given light to the emotional and psychic inner world.
• • Art therapists understand art techniques to facilitate non-verbal communication.
• • In psychoses these therapies can improve creativity, communication, creativity, and intuition.

A R T I C L E I N F O A B S T R A C T

Keywords: Art therapy is a therapeutic tool used in numerous pathological, physical, and mental conditions. Difficult
Art-Therapy; to define, art therapy has undergone various phases of success over the years. Several studies have
Brut therapy; demonstrated its effectiveness, although the results of international literature searches often need to be
Primary psychosis; more consistent. Our brief review of this therapeutic tool’s state-of-the-art aims to provide valuable and
Evolution;
applicable information in clinical practice. Knowledge of the limits and fields of application can help
Outside art.
healthcare professionals to maintain in the most appropriate way avoiding enthusiasm or despondency.
It is a therapeutic tool; as such, it must be used to improve patients’ functioning and quality of life.

a personal level through the use of art materials in a safe and

1 Introduction
facilitating environment» (BAAT - British Association of Art
Therapists website, 2023).
Art is considered a mediator (between the person with
Art therapy is a form of expressive therapy that uses the
mental disorders and the therapist), which offers a safe and
creative process of making art to improve a person’s
indirect means of connection with oneself and with others.
physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Many countries
So, art can become therapeutic support. Art Therapy as a
have formalized art therapy schools, institutes, and training
form of psychotherapy has been practiced for over 60 years
centers. In Italy, among the various schools, Italian Art
(Hogan, 2001). It can become a complementary treatment
Therapy stands out, an association founded in 1982 with
for mental disorders (Hu et al., 2021). Art therapy, as a non-
the aim of promoting the practice of Art Therapy and Dance
pharmacological medical complementary and alternative
Movement Therapy in Italy (Associazione Art Therapt Italia
therapy, has been used as one of the medical interventions
website, 2023). Metaphors, symbols, and the expressive use
with good clinical effects on mental disorders. The British
of art materials combine to create a rich language for self-
Association of Art Therapists defines art therapy as «a form
expression and the opportunity to translate strong
of psychotherapy that uses art media as its primary mode of
emotions into an artistic expression. Differences in scale or
communication. Clients who are referred to an art therapist
perspective, tone, color, and metaphors allow for a
need not have experience or skill in the art. The art therapist
potentially sophisticated articulation of thoughts and
is not primarily concerned with making an aesthetic or
feelings (Hogan, 2015).
diagnostic assessment of the client’s image. The overall aim
Like other therapeutic strategies, art can extend individual
of its practitioners is to enable a client to change and grow on
abilities beyond what nature initially granted the

* Corresponding author:
e-mail: francescofranza60@gmail.com - franza.francesco@virgilio.it

Received 22 August 2023; Received in revised form 23 August 2023; Accepted 24 August 2023.
© NeaMente Journal. All rights reserved
Franza F
compensatory power of art on individual emotional and
psychological fragility (Attard & Larkin, 2016; West, 2008).
Art acts as an extension of the individual’s mind. Creativity
allows us to expand outwards the desire to communicate
the inner world to others. Beyond training schools, Art
Therapy arises from the inner world of everyone to heal
psychological and social wounds. The descriptive need and
the framing in repeatable and shareable boundaries have
determined the need for structuring. Only some forms of Art
Therapy have been described in this article. The article
focuses only on some forms, inviting the reader to refer to
more detailed manuals that adequately describe this
therapeutic procedure. The purpose of our article is to
provide little information to spread this form of therapeutic
expression to professionals and people with mental illness
and their loved ones.
1.1 Art Therapy definitions
The definition of art is culturally specific. Indeed, many
societies that create splendid rock paintings do not have a
word for art in their language (White, 1992). Numerous and
often conflicting definitions of art therapy – or art
psychotherapy – have been advanced. From a
contemporary perspective, art therapy may be defined as a
form of therapy in which creating images and objects plays
a significant role in the psychotherapeutic relationship
between the art therapist and the client (Cherry, 2022).
The British Association of Art Therapists (BAAT), for
example, currently defines art therapy as follows: «Art
Therapy is a form of psychotherapy that uses art media as its
primary mode of communication. Clients who are referred to
an art therapist need not have previous experience or skill in
art, the art therapist is not primarily concerned with making
an aesthetic or diagnostic assessment of the client’s image.
The overall aim of its practitioners is to enable a client to
effect change and growth on a personal level through the use
of art materials in a safe and facilitating environment».
Other national professional associations provide similar,
but also subtly different, definitions. The American Art
Therapy Association (AATA), for instance, defines art
therapy as follows: «Art therapy is the therapeutic use of art
making, within a professional relationship, by people who
experience illness, trauma, or challenges in living, and by
people who seek personal development. Through creating art
and reflecting on the art products and processes, people can
increase awareness of self and others cope with symptoms,
stress, and traumatic experiences; enhance cognitive
abilities; and enjoy the life-affirming pleasures of making
art» (American Art Therapy Association, 2023).
Art therapy involves both the process and products of
image making (from crude scribbling to more sophisticated
forms of symbolic expression) and providing a therapeutic
relationship. The aims of art therapy vary according to the
particular needs of the individuals with whom the art
therapist works, and these needs may change as the
therapeutic relationship develops. For one person, the art
therapy process might involve the art therapist
encouraging them to share and explore an emotional
difficulty through creating images and discussion.
Art therapy is action-oriented and experience-based. Such
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NeaMente Journal 2023;0:X
inherent qualities differentiate it from other forms of
therapy and make it particularly effective for various client
populations. Art therapists work with individuals, couples,
families, and groups in diverse settings, including hospitals,
schools, psychiatric and rehabilitation facilities, community
mental health clinics, wellness centers, forensic institutions,
crisis centers, senior communities, veteran’s clinics,
juvenile facilities, correctional institutions, and other
community facilities. Art therapy’s methods and treatment
objectives differ depending on the setting and client
population.
2 At the source of art
Art is known as one of the earliest forms of communication,
dating back to the cave art of the Palaeolithic age (Roberts,
2007). The oldest cave painting was found in the El Castillo
cave in Cantabria, Spain, and dates back 40,000 years to the
Aurignacian period (Lewis-Williams, 2002). The human
being begins to leave the projections of his inner world
through expressive and emotional communication that is
shared and understood. Some authors believe that even
commonly used tools such as stone tool skills can be
considered as a mental representation of the builder. He
must know the techniques necessary for the preparation of
core stones through symbolic representation and creativity.
Lewis-Williams argues that human creativity arises out of
necessity. «It is important – he claims – to notice that human
creativity and symbolism was linked to social diversity and
change, not to stable, history-less society. Change stimulates;
homeostasis anaesthetizes» (Lewis-Williams, 2002).
The technically useful tool becomes a symbolic object in a
period defined by Steven Mithen as “the Big Bang of human
culture”. In the time 60,000 – 30,000 years ago, the survivor
of human evolution, Homo Sapiens sapiens, becomes the
architect of the cultural and artistic explosion (Mithen,
1999). Deacon believes that Modern Human «was born
when art was born», when for the first time in its history he
attributed a symbolic meaning to an object he builds
(Deacon, 1997). Archaeologists have often described the
Middle/Upper Paleolithic transition as a time of cultural
explosion. In this period, the «restructuring of social
relations» (Alcaro & Carta, 2019; White, 1993), the
appearance of economic speciation (Hayden, 1993), and the
origin of language (Kaas, 2019; Whallon, 1989) developed.
Mellars suggests that «the emergence of complex, highly
structured language» could «potentially, have revolutionized
the whole spectrum of human culture» (Mellars, 1989). The
evolutionary changes of the neocortex allowed the
impressive mental abilities of humans and the development
of artistic symbolism (Brown et al., 2012).
In ancient times, art has played a key role in the care,
considering symbols and signs (spirals, mazes, Egyptian
hieroglyphics, cuneiform script of the Sumerians, Chinese
ideograms), information needed in healing rituals, as well
as a form of communication (Balter, 2009). With the birth
of religions, symbolic representation was used to protect to
control emotions, anxiety, and fear (Alcorta & Sosis, 2005).
The hunter-gatherers developed «the cognitive
underpinnings of belief in supernatural agents, the role of
Franza F
ritual in promoting cooperation, and the contribution of
morally punishing high gods to the growth and stabilization
of human society» (Peoples et al., 2016).
Art in the history of the Home sapiens sapiens in the
following centuries has become the transposition of the
essence of human’s emotional and psychic inner world.
With the birth of psychoanalysis, psychiatry, and modern
neuroscience, art entered the tools of professionals who
take care of the discomfort of people suffering from mental
disorders. Art therapy has become a therapeutic tool. But is
it really so?
3 History of Art Therapy
In the twentieth century, modern psychiatry has influenced
art as a means of treatment, showing interest in cohesion
between the images and the unconscious and highlighting a
link between art and the interior world. In the twentieth
century, modern psychiatry began to use art as a means of
therapy, identifying a close link between images projected
from the unconscious and artistic expression, between art
and the inner world. Sigmund Freud, who opened a glimpse
into the unknown unconscious world by interpreting dream
images, never considered artistic representation a healing
tool (Freud, 1997, new edition). Kraepelin and Jaspers, on
the other hand, Kraepelin and Jaspers used their patients’
drawings to diagnose the disease. Jung encouraged his
patients to draw their own dream images and saw art as a
gateway to feelings and an analysis of the self that resides
in the unconscious, which must be brought to light. «If an
author - he stated - is ill, i.e., mentally ill, it is very probable
that whatever he produces bears the imprint of his illness»
(Jung, 1993). The doctor, anthropologist, and philosopher
Cesare Lombroso, in the book “Genio e Follia” (Genius and
Madness, 1887) (Lombroso, 2021) studied the art of mental
illness and proposed an etiology of brilliance (neurosis,
trauma, intoxication dependent on a cortical irritation.
Hans Prinzhorn, psychiatrist, art collector,
He ferociously criticizes these conclusions, calling them
grave forms of prejudice. Prinzhorn believed that
«Lombroso’s ideas stray from the proper understanding of
the artistic production of the sick, shifting attention to the
process of creating the image and psychic roots» (Pettinari,
2019). The cultural ground was fertile for the development
of art therapy.
3.1 Art Brut
The term “Art Brut” refers to an artistic trend born in France
with the works of naive artists, prisoners, and patients
suffering from psychiatric disorders without experience or
specific artistic training. The concept of Art Brut was
invented by Jean Dubuffet (Süzen, 2020). In occupied Paris
in the 1940s, French artist Jean Dubuffet began advocating
a progressive view of art. Through research exploring the
“raw” art, he collected works, pictures, and paintings of
people affected by psychiatric patients outside the
academic tradition. Dubuffet considered that with «Art
Brut, the wild state or freedom should not be conceived as
fixed places, but as directions, aspirations, trends [...] like a
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NeaMente Journal 2023;0:X
pole, a wind that blows more or less strongly» (Dubuffet,
1986).
Before this artist, however, some authors had already
begun to publish works on the art of patients with
psychiatric disorders. Hans Prinzhorn, German psychiatrist,
and art historian, in fact, published the book “The Artistry
of the Mentally Ill” (Bildnerei der Geisteskranken) in 1924. In
the book he described the works collected in various
German, Swiss, and Italian psychiatric hospitals, giving life
to the artistic concept of “Art Brut”. It should be
remembered that the French psychiatrist Paul Menier
published a book in 1907 using the nickname Marcel Reja.
Prinzhorn claimed that «The configurative process,
instinctive and free of purpose, breaks through in these
people without any demonstrable stimulus or direction – they
know not they do» (Prinzhorn, 1972).
In 1947 Jean Dubuffet found a space in the basement of
Réné Drouin’s Parisian gallery that became the Foyer de
l’Art Brut. Although the exhibition spaces were limited, he
exhibited the works of various artists suffering from
psychosis (Adolf Wölfi, Aloïse Corbaz, Triper and others). In
1948 he founded the Compagnie de l’Art Brut, including
André Breton among its members.
Over time, the term Art Brut has assumed a historicized
physiognomy that coincides with the Collection de l’Art
Brut in Lausanne. Donated by Jean Dubuffet, this collection
is housed in an 18th-century castle, the Château de
Beaulieu, owned by Lausanne. In polemic with museum art
and the general aesthetics of the Western world, in his anti-
cultural book Asphyxiating Culture Dubuffet argued for the
genuine creativity of ordinary people “It may be that artistic
creation, with all that free inventiveness requires, takes
place at a higher level of tension in a nameless crowd of
ordinary people than in circles that think they have a
monopoly on them. In 1964, he launched the publication of
the Art Brut booklets. So, Jean Dubuffet, the French painter,
and sculptor founded the art movement Art Brut
movement. «By this [Art Brut], we mean pieces of work
executed by people untouched by artistic culture, in which
therefore mimicry, contrary to what happens in intellectuals,
plays little or no part so that their authors draw everything
(subjects, choice of materials employed, means of
transposition, rhythms, ways of writing) from their depths
and not from clichés of classical art or art that is fashionable.
Here we are witnessing an artistic operation that is
completely pure, raw, reinvented in all its phases by its
author, based solely on his impulses. Therefore, art is
manifested as the sole function of invention, and not those
constantly seen in cultural art, of the chameleon and the
monkey» (from Jean Dubuffet: L’Art Brut Prefere Aux Arts
Culturels 1949. Galleria René Drouin. https://www.
artbrut.ch /en_GB/art-brut/what-is-art-brut).
In Anglo-Saxon culture, this artistic trend has taken the
name of Outsider Art thanks above all to the English art
historian Roger Cardinal (Di Stefano, 2021). By this term,
Cardinal emphasized, it means the extraordinary work
created by people who are somehow on the margins of
society and who, for any combination of reasons, find
themselves unable to adapt to the conventional demands -
social and psychological, as well as artistic - of culture who
Franza F NeaMente Journal 2023;0:X

inhabit (Maclagan, 2010). creativity, a non-threatening communication tool and a

Art therapists understand art techniques and proficiently comfortable cognitive space are provided for the patient.
use materials to facilitate non-verbal communication. By When patients enter the places of art therapy, they find the
the middle of the 20th century, many hospitals and mental tools they need to develop their creativity. Emotions,
health facilities began including art therapy programs after thoughts, and feelings live in the body and communicate
observing how this form of therapy could promote patient through the body. The symbolic dimension (art, music,
emotional, developmental, and cognitive growth. The dance, painting, and so on) reconfigures the experience of
discipline continued to grow from there, becoming an living. In this form of therapy, art becomes a means to
essential tool for assessing, communicating, and treating access the inner world and open up to the outside world
children and adults alike. (d'Errico, 2017). Drawing materials, musical instruments,
devices, computers, and other forms of media are in these
places. Education professionals invite them to use them.
4 The therapeutic language of art (symbols and
They invite them to draw whatever they choose and even
psychotherapy)
make a statement in pictures that represent their feelings
about being in the therapeutic setting. This approach allows
The idea that creative expression can contribute to healing
the patient to overcome fears of incapacity and to feel
has been embraced in many cultures. Intrapsychic, creative,
judged and challenged. Cognitive abilities are stimulated
emotional, and expressive communication occurs through
through an approach free from pressure or judgments.
symbolic representations. The primary symbolic
The art therapist uses and proposes the evocative powers
representation that characterizes human beings is
of each tool used. Patients may feel adequate and supported
language. Thanks to language, man has a system of signals
by a therapist uninterested in verbal cross-examination.
and symbols that no living being has. Through the complex
Instead, their therapist is interested in their views of their
world of the structure of this tool of expression, he can
world as expressed through images (Riley, 2001).
formulate and create something entirely new. It is the
Why is all of this important? The development of
power of the creative tool of language. (Eibl-Eibesfeldt,
neuroscience has posed new questions on the
1993).
interpretation of external reality and the decoding of the
«Language’s ways of representing objects, events, and
stimuli received from it. External visual, auditory, olfactory,
relationships - says Terrence Deacon (1997) - provide an
and other stimuli are decoded in specific brain areas
effective economy of reference like no other». Language is
through complex and interconnected neuronal networks.
pervasive and inseparable from internal ideological
The world as we see it is a construct built slowly by each of
constructs. We represent ideas, concepts, emotions,
us over years of experimentation (Gombrich, 1962). The
memories, and hopes through its symbolism. However, the
interaction of the emotional and experiential experiences of
symbolism is complex. The American philosopher Peirce
the individual modulates the elaboration of the symbolic
distinguished three categories of relational
aspects of the perceived or imagined object. The brain’s
representational associations: the icon, the index, and the
structure means that the final result is universally confluent
symbol. When we say something is a “symbol,” we refer to a
in identifying shared stimuli. In the case of an interpretation
social convention, a tacit agreement, or an explicit code that
of an abstract symbolism or one not supported by social
establishes the connecting relationship (Nöth, 2010). The
identifications, there will be a purely subjective
symbolic representation contains the shared
interpretation, the result of the individual’s history (Kandel,
communication between conventionally and culturally
2016).
accepted elements. Out of the shared context, the symbolic
It is possible to understand art therapy only with a correct
representation lost its meaning.
understanding of symbolism. Symbols, similarities, and
With the discovery of artistic creativity, men in the Upper
analogies sometimes need clarification. Symbolism arises
Paleolithic tried to imitate nature. They began to gain some
from an interpsychic conflict between the repressive
mastery over nature and, perhaps, the confidence to
tendencies of the unconscious mind and the repressed –
celebrate nature. Humans were beginning to cope with
«only what is repressed is symbolized; only what is repressed
intangible fears, anxieties, and mysteries, perhaps in
needs to be symbolized» (Kandel, 2016). Only by
concert with an increased awareness of their intellectual
understanding the symbolism can an art therapy be
powers and consciousness (Johanson & Edgar, 1996).
developed that is useful for healing the wounds of
Art has always had a symbolic and therapeutic value. It has
discomfort and disease. Dealing with the terminological
been used as a healing tool for more than a century.
differences and similarities of words such as similarity,
However, only in recent years have systematic and
analogy, and analogies is the first step of the Art Therapy
controlled studies examined the therapeutic effects and
therapist (de Botton & Armstrong, 2016). A simile indicates
benefits of the arts and healing. In several areas of creative
an explicit comparison between two different things. The
artistic expression (music engagement, visual arts,
analogy produces a correspondence between a familiar idea
movement-based creative expression, and expressive
and a similar “object”. Symbolism is the result of an
writing), there are clear indications that artistic
intrapsychic conflict. The symbol represents the fruit of the
engagement has significantly positive effects on health
repressive tendency of the unconscious mind (Jones &
(Stuckey & Nobel, 2010).
Churchill, 1994). Symbolism arises from an intrapsychic
Art as an expressive language provides an entrance into the
conflict between the repressive tendencies of the
relationship with patients. Through the stimulation of

4
Franza F
unconscious mind and the repressed – «only what is
repressed is symbolized; only what is repressed needs to be
symbolized» (Jones, 1916). Through symbols, we can give
shape or form to our experience of the world and may
provide the basis for self-understanding and emotional
growth.
5 Art-Ateliers and practice
The Art-Ateliers are artistic and therapeutic laboratories of
psychiatric rehabilitation facilities, where patients translate
their thoughts into expressive forms. The relationship
between the therapist and the patient is essential. However,
art therapy differs from other psychological therapies
because it is a three-way process between the client, the
therapist, and the image or artifact (Case & Dalley, 2014).
Art therapists are master-level clinicians who work with
people of all ages across many practice settings, such as
hospitals, schools, private practice, psychiatric and
rehabilitation, and crisis centers (American Psychiatric
Association, 2020).
In addition to the art therapist’s background, training, and
theoretical orientation, his practice will also be influenced
by the particular needs of the patient group with whom he
works and the institutional context within which this work
takes place. The art therapist will work within a
multidisciplinary professional group where he will have to
share the initiatives, activities, and evaluation of each case.
Communication and sharing are fundamental elements
within a working relationship. The nature of the
organizations in which art therapists work will influence
their ability to establish and maintain a therapeutic practice
appropriate to the workplace setting. (Finkel & Bat Or,
2020).
6 Art Therapy in Primary Psychosis
Primary psychosis can be described as a heterogeneous
group of mental disorders characterized by delusions
and/or hallucinations, together with other clinical
manifestations involving the different psychopathological
spheres. Negative symptoms, cognitive deficits, ideational
disorganization, and behavioral disturbances are strongly
present in these patients. When we consider primary
psychoses, we include a group of disorders, including
schizophrenia, schizophreniform disorder, brief psychotic
disorder, schizoaffective disorder, and other disorders (Maj
et al., 2021). The NICE guidelines sustain the importance of
alternative and supportive therapeutic strategies for the
management of the symptomatic complexity of these
pathologies (NICE - National Collaborating Centre for
Mental Health, 2014). These guidelines recommend that art
therapies can be offered to all people with schizophrenia,
particularly for the alleviation of negative symptoms
(Bastiampillai et al., 2016). Nice identifies that arts
therapies include «art therapy or art psychotherapy, dance
movement therapy, body psychotherapy, drama therapy and
music therapy».
These therapies can improve the ability to relate to others
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NeaMente Journal 2023;0:X
and with oneself, creativity, communication, creativity, and
intuition (Attard & Larkin, 2016). Ultimately, art therapy
can alleviate adverse symptoms such as psychosis. Among
the difficulties encountered in the scientific literature
search, there is that interventions were often ambiguous,
making it difficult to distinguish between art psychotherapy
and the use of art for enjoyment and the acquisition of
artistic skills (Holttum & Huet, 2014).
Whether art therapy can be an effective rehabilitative
treatment for people with brain or mental diseases (e.g.,
dementia (Batubara et al., 2023; Deshmukh et al., 2018),
Alzheimer’s disease (Zilidou et al., 2023), Parkinson’s
disease (Cucca et al., 2021), and autism (Bernier et al.,
2022) studies of the effectiveness of art therapy on the
symptoms of primary psychosis are not many and often
contradictory or limited by low series or clinical cases. In
some studies, art therapy may reduce psychopathology in
schizophrenia by strengthening the patients’ sense of self
(Fassino & Ferrero, 1992; Teglbjaerg, 2011).
In another study, Meng and colleagues (2005) reported
unclear conclusions. Results showed improved health and
social functioning after 15 weeks in patients with
schizophrenia. However, these authors concluded that in
the short term, a measure of social functioning showed no
clear difference between groups in endpoint scores, and
quality of life did not indicate the effects of art therapy.
However, the positive conclusions of these two studies
were contradicted by the MATISSE trial (Crawford et al.,
2010). This study aimed to evaluate group art therapy’s
clinical and economic efficacy for people with
schizophrenia. The MATISSE (Multi-center study of Art
Therapy in Schizophrenia - Systematic Evaluation) study
plans to examine the effects and cost-effectiveness of group
art therapy compared to an active control treatment for
people with schizophrenia. Outcomes obtained after 24
months of intervention did not appear to improve patients’
global functioning or mental health or provide more cost-
effective use of resources than standard care alone
(Crawford et al., 2012).
A review by Slayton and colleagues (2010) suggests that
there is little evidence to support the claim that art therapy
is effective in treating a variety of symptoms, age groups,
and disorders. Risultati analoghi sono stati ottenuti con
alter reviews (Hacking et al., 2008; Howells & Zelnik, 2009;
Van Lith et al., 2013).
These studies suggest that participation in arts therapies
positively benefits people with mental health challenges.
Levels of empowerment, awareness, and empathy increase.
These results, the authors conclude, confirm that art
therapy can influence the well-being and quality of life of
people with psychiatric disabilities in the environments in
which they live in the context of the rehabilitation
treatment process (Franza et al., 2015; Galderisi et al., 2021;
Mirabella, 2015; Rampino et al., 2021).
In the more recent review (Attard & Larkin, 2016) they
considered the effectiveness of art therapy in comparison
with any control groups, and did not discuss the evidence
for drama, music, and dance therapy. The main difficulty
encountered in art therapy efficacy studies is the
heterogeneity of the methods used in the various research.
Franza F
In fact, as highlighted in the “Treatment method” section of
this review, different titles have been used under the name
of art therapy. Among these, clay work or clay therapy are
most frequently used (de Morais et al., 2014), creative
activity group (Caddy et al., 2012; Slattery et al., 2020), art
gallery-based project (Colbert et al., 2013), expressive art
therapy (Hanevik et al., 2013; Vaartio-Rajalin et al., 2021).
The conclusions of the Attard and Larkin review are that the
evidence for the effectiveness of the art therapy in symptom
reduction and functioning for people with psychosis
remains inconclusive. However, the authors believe the
usefulness of art therapy but that it is necessary to study the
efficacy of this therapy with more adequate RCTs.
Some authors further indicate the possibility of using the
sensory and emotional experience aroused by art in
museum art therapy (Thomson et al., 2020; Wei & Zhong,
2022). The museums provide a safe environment for the art
therapy experience, thus promoting the process of cultural
adaptation and providing a healthy and aesthetic
experience with self-discovery (Mastandrea et al., 2021;
Van Lith, 2016). The museum becomes a safe and
welcoming place where individuals escape and can release
their suppressed emotions. Wei and colleagues argue that
in these places, “art therapy may enable them to discover
how to express themselves, thereby reducing anxiety and
promoting a sense of social belonging, which may be
unattainable in other healing settings” (Wei et al., 2023).
7 Conclusion
Art therapy is an important tool for the treatment of people
suffering from mental disorders, although it has also been
used in other pathologies. In the various forms used, art
therapy is used in rehabilitation facilities to support and
integrate the work of the multidisciplinary team. His ability
to represent intrapsychic contents through the
symbolization can help the patient to externalize his own
emotional experiences. However, scientific research on the
effectiveness of art therapy has currently shown
contradictory and unclear results. Individualized,
randomized trials are needed for each type of art therapy to
evaluate its effectiveness. However, it is important to clarify
that Art Therapy finds its place and therapeutic function
within individualized therapeutic programs.
Funding
The author(s) received no financial support for the
research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.
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