Psychiatric and Mental Health Commons^™

Art Therapy With A Patient With Schizoaffective Disorder, Caroline Cheslak

EVMS School of Health Professions Master's Level Capstones, Projects and Papers

People with disorders on the schizophrenia spectrum require treatment and care which are often needed for the duration of that person's life. While medication and traditional therapy are somewhat effective, some symptoms of the disorder often remain. In addition, there are often difficulties in the treatment of this population, which include non-compliance, lack of insight about the disorder and treatment, and distrust of the therapist. Research suggests that art therapy is somewhat effective in the treatment of some of the symptoms of disorders on the schizophrenia spectrum such as low sense of self, the effect of negative stigma, negative symptoms, …

Approaches And Considerations For Providing Medical Art Therapy: A Qualitative Analysis, Jillian Popp

EVMS School of Health Professions Master's Level Capstones, Projects and Papers

Medical illness and injury as well as, the resulting psychosocial stressors can greatly impact the psychological health of the patient and their family. It is important to provide mental health services as collaborative treatment in medical hospitals. Art therapy is a uniquely accessible mental health treatment for all ages and abilities. Previous research supports the benefits of art therapy for individuals suffering from various medical illnesses and injuries. Art therapy can alleviate depression, ease anxiety, provide tools for coping with symptoms, and help the individual overcome medical crisis or trauma. This study examined the experience of art therapists working with …

Growing In Community: Eco-Art Therapy In An Elementary School Garden, Stephanie Leftwich-Needham

EVMS School of Health Professions Theses & Dissertations

This study endeavored to gain a preliminary understanding of how children respond to eco-art therapy. Mental illness in children is increasing and often leads to adult mental illness. A holistic approach to mental health and early prevention seems vital. Previous studies conclude that children are especially responsive to the healing benefits of both art therapy and nature therapy. However, there is no research to date evaluating an eco-art therapy approach to working with children.

The author led six second-graders identified by the public school system as struggling with social skills through eco-art therapy directives designed to address issues such as …

Caffeinated Alcohol Use And Expectancies For Caffeine Versus Alcohol, Cathy Lau-Barraco, Ashley N. Linden

Psychology Faculty Publications

Background- Caffeinated alcoholic beverage (CAB) use is related to alcohol-related risk. Limited research has examined outcome expectancies and CAB consumption.

Objectives- This study tested the predictive utility of caffeine and alcohol expectancies in CAB use outcomes (i.e. quantity, frequency, and alcohol-related harms).

Methods- Participants were 419 (302 women) alcohol and caffeine users from a mid-sized urban university. Data collection occurred between August 2010 and December 2011. Participants completed measures of caffeine and alcohol expectancies, alcohol problems, alcohol use, and CAB use.

Results- Caffeine and alcohol expectancies contributed uniquely to approximately 12% of the variability in quantity, 8% in frequency, and …

Alcohol Use And Trauma Exposure Among Male And Female Veterans Before, During, And After Military Service, Michelle L. Kelley, Jennifer Runnals, Matthew R. Pearson, Marinell Miller, John A. Fairbank, Va Mid-Atlantic Mirecc Women Veterans Workgroup

Psychology Faculty Publications

Background: The present study examined lifespan and combat-related trauma exposure as predictors of alcohol use among male and female veterans. Posttraumatic stress and depressive symptoms were examined as mediators of the effects of trauma exposure on alcohol use.

Methods: Data were examined from 1825 (1450 male, 375 female) veterans and active duty service members who took part in a multi-site research study conducted through the Department of Veterans Affairs Mid-Atlantic Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center (VISN 6 MIRECC).

Results: For both men and women, depressive symptoms significantly mediated the effects of non-combat trauma exposure experienced before, during and …

What Is The Effect Of Mandala Drawing Versus Art Card Sorting On Mood, Stress, And Anxiety In Individuals With Mood And Anxiety Disorders?, Sara K.M. Young

EVMS School of Health Professions Theses & Dissertations

The effect of mandala drawing versus art card sorting on mood, stress, and anxiety on a clinical population of adults with a history or diagnosis of DSM-­‐IV-­‐TR mood and/or anxiety disorders is investigated through a randomized study utilizing experiment and control groups, and a single subject case study. Standardized measurements used to collect data were the profile of mood states, the state-­‐trait anxiety inventory, and the Beck depression inventory-­‐II. Statistical significance could not be tested due to a lack of control subjects. Mean and standard deviation are reported and show a decrease in the mean post experiment. The single subject …

A Proposed Art Therapy Group For Survivors Of Suicide Based Upon The Results Of A Survivor Of Suicide’S Self-Study, Crystal Menicola

EVMS School of Health Professions Theses & Dissertations

A survivor of suicide’s self-exploration process was explored to investigate the efficacy and applicability of specific therapeutic art and writing tasks proposed in the original methodology for the study of an art therapy group with survivors of suicide. Based on personal reflections throughout the self-exploration process, the researcher improved the original study design by modifying the sequence of tasks and adding supplemental art and writing exercises to sessions in consideration of evocative material that had the potential to elicit a severe trauma response due to recalling traumatic memories. Two standardized measures, the PTSD Checklist-Civilian Version, and the Trauma Symptom Checklist-40, …

The Use Of Art Therapy To Examine Self-Concept With A Breast Cancer Survivor, Melanie Gaskin

EVMS School of Health Professions Theses & Dissertations

Negative self-concept is one of the psychological effects for women diagnosed with breast cancer. Treatment modalities for improving self-concept and other psychological effects of breast cancer have focused on using psycho-educational and support groups. Art therapy may be an alternate treatment modality for examining and improving self-concept. This qualitative case report utilized an eight-week art therapy intervention, using Cognitive-Behavioral and Phenomenological art therapy approaches to improve the self-concept of a female breast cancer survivor. Results yielded overlapping themes from the content analysis of images produced and written data. The four themes that emerged were spirituality, social support, positivity, and creating …

Treating Detained Juveniles: Measuring Mental Health Traits And Gender Differences, Todd L. Grande, Janelle M. Hallman, Lee A. Underwood, Kellie M. Warren, Mark Rehfuss

Counseling & Human Services Faculty Publications

An understanding of gender-specific differences between detained male and female youth and how these differences relate to mental health is fundamental to understanding, assessing, and treating this population. This study examined the prevalence of mental health symptoms among a sample of 4,015 incarcerated juveniles who were assessed at intake using the BASC-2, MAYSI-2, and Trauma Symptom Checklist for Children. Significant differences were found between males and females on many of the instruments’ clinical scales, the effect size, however, was small. The prevalence of mental health symptoms varied greatly based on the instrument used (12% and 70% for males; 18% and …

Exploring The Effects Of An Art Based Trauma Protocol With An Active Duty Police Officer Experiencing Symptoms Of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Khaki Wieters

EVMS School of Health Professions Theses & Dissertations

Because of repeated exposure to traumatic events as part of their job requirements, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder is a common problem found among police officers. Although treatments in some agencies are limited, they can include, Critical Incident Stress Management, mandatory referrals to mental health professionals, and trained peer support. Art therapy is an efficient treatment for trauma because it bypasses defenses and aids in processing and integrating traumatic imagery by naturally connecting the brain’s right and left hemispheres. Police diagnosed with PTSD may benefit from art therapy since it can penetrate resistance and has proven effective for processing traumatic imagery.

This …

Inpatient Group Psychotherapy: Predicting Attendance And Participation, Sharon E. Silverberg

Counseling & Human Services Theses & Dissertations

Inpatient group psychotherapy is one of the primary talk therapy interventions offered to patients necessitating acute psychiatric treatment. Research indicates that patients who attend and participate in group psychotherapy sessions while admitted to psychiatric hospitals have a lower rate of recidivism and are more successful in the community utilizing lower levels of psychiatric care. Unfortunately, not all patients attend group psychotherapy while admitted to a psychiatric facility and therefore do not benefit, possibly contributing to non-compliance with community-based treatment and readmissions to inpatient psychiatric institutions for stabilization and safety. This lack of participation in group psychotherapy deprives the patient the …

Behavioral Couple Therapy: Partner-Involved Treatment For Substance-Abusing Women, William Fals-Stewart, Wendy K.K. Lam, Michelle L. Kelley

Psychology Faculty Publications

Among the various psychosocial interventions presently available to treat alcohol and drug abuse, it could be argued that partner-involved treatments are the most broadly efficacious. There is not only substantial empirical support for the use of couple-based treatments in terms of improvements in primary targeted outcomes, such as substance use and relationship adjustment, but also in other areas that are of clear public health significance, including intimate partner violence (IPV), children's adjustment, and cost-benefit ratio and cost-effectiveness. During the last few decades, programmatic research on the application of partner-involved therapies for substance abuse has been among the most active and …

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder And Art Making, Kelly Andrews

EVMS School of Health Professions Theses & Dissertations

Over the course of history war has brought death and destruction to the men and women who have had to partake in combat. Through advances in technology more soldiers are able to return home alive, however they are not always physically or mentally intact. There are a large number of men and women returning home from the current conflict in the Middle East with increased Posttraumatic Stress Disorder symptoms. Those who return home as amputees will most likely have amplified PTSD symptoms as they are not only returning home with mental scars, but physical wounds.

The psychological impact of war …

Characteristics Of Bipolar Disorder In Adult Favorite Weather Drawings, Carrie L. Elder

EVMS School of Health Professions Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to identify graphic indicators of Bipolar Disorder in Favorite Weather Drawings. The subjects in this study consisted of 9 individuals diagnosed with a Bipolar Disorder and 16 individuals without a Bipolar Disorder diagnosis. The age range was 22 to 64 years. It was hypothesized that Favorite Weather Drawings rendered by individuals diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder would differ in color, expansiveness, line quality, and weather themes from Favorite Weather Drawings rendered by individuals without a diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder. These differences were measured using a Favorite Weather Drawing Checklist and analyzed for resulting patterns.

This …

Color And Depression In The Diagnostic Drawing Series, Cara Emily Levitt

EVMS School of Health Professions Theses & Dissertations

One of the most interesting and widely held assumptions by clinicians who used projective drawings was that the absence of color may indicate depression. The research about color’s relationship to depression was ambiguous, limited and dated. In this study it was hypothesized that the absence or presence of color in the Feeling Drawing of the Diagnostic Drawing Series [DDS] will have a positive correlation with a diagnosis of Major Depression. To test this hypothesis the colors both in the DDS archives Major Depression group and comparison group were counted and then statistically analyze to determine if specified colors were present …

An Art Therapy And Ecopsychology Intervention With A Grieving Child, Carolyn M. Lucas

EVMS School of Health Professions Theses & Dissertations

There is a discernable need for research into the use of alternative therapies like art therapy and ecopsychology with grieving children. Art therapy seeks to facilitate an individual’s resolution of personal discord through the use of art media and directives. Ecopsychology relies on the assertion that by connecting individuals to the natural world, an improved consciousness will emerge. A literature review was conducted to examine these theories and their applications to grief treatment in children. Camps, workshops, and institutions regularly employ these therapeutic methods to help children with the grieving process. Art therapists in these settings utilize art activities like …