Perceived effects of art therapy in the treatment of personality disorders, cluster B/C: A qualitative study
Publication year
2015Number of pages
10 p.
Source
The Arts in Psychotherapy, 45, (2015), pp. 1-10ISSN
Publication type
Article / Letter to editor
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Organization
FSW_Academisch centrum
SW OZ BSI KLP
Journal title
The Arts in Psychotherapy
Volume
vol. 45
Languages used
English (eng)
Page start
p. 1
Page end
p. 10
Subject
Experimental Psychopathology and TreatmentAbstract
Art therapy (AT) is frequently used in the treatment of patients diagnosed with cluster B/C personality disorders, but there is little evidence for its efficacy. This study aimed to provide insight into the perceived effects of AT. We interviewed 29 adult patients in individual and focus-group in-depth interviews, including a ‘negative case’, starting with a topic list coming from the literature study. Data were gathered and analysed using the Grounded Theory Approach in order to generate concepts and interrelated categories. The constructed theoretical model of effects of AT consisted of five core categories: improved sensory perception; personal integration; improved emotion/impulse regulation; behaviour change; and insight/comprehension. Compared to verbal therapy (VT), patients experienced AT as an experiential therapeutic entry with a complementary quality next to VT and a more direct way to access emotions, which they attributed to the appeal of art materials and art making to bodily sensations and emotional responses. AT was found to fit well the core problems of patients with personality disorders, to offer a specific pathway to more emotional awareness and constructive emotion regulation. The perceived effects give input for further development and research and the development of an assessment tool to examine the efficacy of AT and within clinical practice.
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- Academic publications [246216]
- Electronic publications [133894]
- Faculty of Social Sciences [30432]
- Open Access publications [107422]
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