Annotated Bibliography
Bilgin, E., Kirca, O., & Ozdogan, M. (2018). Art therapies in cancer — A non-negligible beauty and benefit. Journal of Oncological Sciences, 4, 47–48.
The authors, researchers at the Turkish Society of Medical Oncology, published this article in the Journal of Oncological Sciences. The data was an analysis of art therapies used in the treatment of cancerous diseases. The analysis found that cancer patients and families of cancer patients improved their quality of life through expressive art methods. Through expressive art methods, patients were able to balance both their physical and mental health. In contrast to other articles, Art therapies in Cancer provides an atmospheric view of the role of art therapy and art therapy programs available in the medical field as of 2018. The article was written is a simple, easy-to-read method that provided a synopsis for educators, researchers, and families interested in reading a brief excerpt about art therapy programs available to cancer patients. This article provides new information such as expressive art therapy techniques having a positive effect on the cognitive state of cancer patients that will be of interest to scholars and educators interested in the emotional, physical, and spiritual impact of art therapy.
Chesson, R., Moir, E., & Tavendale, A. (1999). More than a sympathetic ear? A report on the first year of a writer in residence in a unit for young, physically disabled people. Clinical Rehabilitation, 13(4), 310–321.
The authors, researchers at The Robert Gordon University, published a qualitative study that included interviews with patients, questionnaires, surveys of staff, and transcripts of dialogue. The subjects of the study were patients admitted to a multidisciplinary rehabilitation, and the working team of that unit. A majority of the eighteen patients suffered degenerative conditions—which severely restricted their mobility, communication, and everyday tasks. The study consisted of patients working with a writer to publish short stories, plays, and poems. The writer hired had experience previously working with hospice patients, and outpatients at other facilities. The data of the study concluded that through expressive writing, patients were able to improved their mood state and address their own psychological needs. In contrast to earlier research, this study is the first to extensively explore creative writing as a therapeutic tool in rehabilitation. This article provides new information such as creative writing and journaling have a positive effect on the cognitive and emotional state of patients suffering from degenerative issues that will be of interest to scholars and educators interested in the emotional, physical, and spiritual impact of art therapy.
Cohen, G. D., Kelly, J., Chapline, J., Firth, K.M., Simmens, S., & Perlstein, S. (2006). The Impact of Professionally Conducted Cultural Programs on the Physical Health, Mental Health, and Social Functioning of Older Adults. The Gerontologist, 46(6), 726-734.
The authors, researchers from The Gerontological Society of America, published a multisite longitudinal study that focused on the impacts that professional programs have on the psychosocial state and physical health of elderly adults. The 12-month long study consisted of 166 healthy elderly adults in the Washington, D.C. area. The subjects were divided into two groups: 1) an intervention group 2) baseline group. The programs available to the intervention group consisted of: writing, singing, and art-making programs. Prior to this study, there was no previous studies conducted on this topic, or in this field. The results found a positive correlation between involvement of professional conducted cultural programs and a higher physical health. The intervention group had less incidents, doctor visits, less medication, higher overall health, and higher moral than the baseline group. Since the article was published in 2006, I would be interested to see if the participants from the intervention group had any significant difference than that of the baseline group thirteen years later. For my own research, I intend to create a program that focuses on the physical health, mental health, and social functioning of physically disabled adults. This article provides new information such as cultural programs have a positive effect on the cognitive state and physical health of the elderly that will be of interest to scholars and educators interested in the emotional, physical, and spiritual impact of therapeutic state of programs.
Fortuna, J. (2018). DisArt: Redefining the Construct of Participation. Open Journal of Occupational Therapy (OJOT), 6(2), 1-7.
Fortuna (2018) publication in The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy journal focuses on DisArt—a program located in Grand Rapids— whose mission is to increase the participation amongst disabled individuals in our communities through exhibitions, events, and art classes. DisArt is a non-profit organization that focuses on changing the definition of disability. Co-founders Dr. Christopher Smit and Jill Vyn strive to redefine disability art and provide community constructs where disabled and nondisabled individuals can create, exhibit, and collaborate freely. In order to do so, DisArt’s program strives to educate local communities to redefine the perception given to individuals with disabilities to that of a cultural identities—rather than a handicapping definition. DisArt has provided multiple events, art festivals, fashions shows, and performances that focus on disability art in the fine arts community. Alike, in 2014, The American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) published Occupational Therapy’s Commitment to Nondiscrimination and Inclusion that requires that disabled individuals receive the same commitment, and treatment in activities and participation in professional organizations—including the art field. In recent years, DisArt has become the most prevalent organization and the leading voice in the disabled community. This article provides new information such as changing the community perception of a disabled individual can change the way an individual self-perceives and interacts amongst the community that will be of interest to scholars and educators interested in the emotional, physical, and spiritual impact of art therapy.
Kim, S.H., Kim, M.Y., Lee, J.H., & Chun, S.I. (2008). Art Therapy Outcomes in the Rehabilitation Treatment of a Stroke Patient: A Case Report. Art Therapy: Journal of the American Art Therapy Association, 25(3), 129-133.
The authors, and researchers from Pochon CHA University, published a case study report that discusses the link between art therapy and the improvement of early-chronic stroke patients. The case study followed a fifty-nine year old female patient that was diagnosed with having a subarachnoid hemorrhage from a cerebral aneurysm rupture two years prior to the study. The art therapy took place over the span of ten weeks and occurred twice per week. A baseline was test was taken for the MMSE, MVPT, and other psychological tests. Afterwards, the results yielded that the biological tests showed that art therapy may be positively correlated with improvement in the cognitive function, visual-perception capability, and motor function for chronic-stroke patients. However, the results are only based on a single patient, and a larger-scale study should be initiated to yield true results to the chronic-stroke suffering community. Art therapy not only increases attention span, but also, positively impacts stress-levels and patient motivation. Stroke patients often suffer severely from depression and other mental disorders. It is important to find wants to alleviate the third variables that emotion bring to these patients. This article provides new information such as creative expression has a positive effect on the both the cognitive and physical state of a chronic-stroke patient that will be of interest to scholars and educators interested in the emotional, physical, and spiritual impact of art therapy.
Like, R.C. (2001). Culture, Health and Illness: An Introduction for Health Professionals. Public Health Reports, 116, 369-370.
Medical professional Robert C. Like (2001) published this book review on Culture, Health, and Illness originally written by Cecil G. Helman through Oxford University Press in 1994. Helman is a practitioner and medical anthropologist that published a book that focused on the importance of practitioners being culturally competent in their medical field. Besides reducing malpractice claims, Helman has found a correlation between a practitioners cultural competency curricula, and the quality of both health services and outcomes. Excerpts from Helman’s book has been used as a teaching module for the study and educational programs of many medical fields. The book is divided into fourteen chapters that focuses on topics that are particularly interesting to the international health and medical community in regards to health and socio-behavioral science disciplines. Interestingly enough, the book is constantly updated to stay in the most relevant medical condition. This article provides new information that should be of interest to the medical field in regards to practitioners’ cultural competency to understand and better treat patients.
Reynold, F., & Prior, S. (2009). A Lifestyle Coat-Hanger: A Phenomenological Study of the Meanings of Artwork for Women Coping with Chronic Illness and Disability. Disability and Rehabilitation, 25(14), 785-794.
The authors, researchers from Brunel University, published a study that focused on the psychosocial influence of creative endeavors through artistic leisure. The purpose of this illness. The study consisted of thirty-five women ranging from 29-72 year of age and suffering from a range of chronic illnesses. The women in the study participated in the creation of art as a leisure activity—more specifically, textile art. Qualitative research was conducted through interpretative phenomenological enquiry. The interviews conducted explored the women’s experience with illness, disability, and the psychosis of their debilitating confinement. The study results found that art can be a psychological antidote to the self-confinement established through chronic illness. Alike, participants in the study found an increase in perception of their self-esteem, and gained a social support through the new relationships built on their mutual interests of textile art—rather than relationships built on chronic illness. This article provides new information such as creative endeavors and artistic leisurely activities have a positive effect on the cognitive state, emotional state, and healing process of women suffering from chronic illness that will be of interest to scholars and educators interested in the emotional, physical, and spiritual impact of art therapy.
Sigman, K. (2015). Releasing the Inner Artist: Approaching Activities Programming in Long Term Care from a Creative Arts Therapies Perspective. Kansas State University Master’s Theses, 1-43.
Sigman (2015) published analysis focuses efforts on exploring how creative art therapies can positively impact the quality of life in patients of a long-term care facility. The descriptive research study focuses on exploring various methods of creative art therapists and the activities that are typically used within the creative therapeutic environment. Sigman’s writing takes the reader through the history of art therapy—its origin, and its development. Alike, Sigman’s literature review provides examples of current professionals that are conducting research in long-term care facilities. The data that Sigman has collected through her literature review has found that there is positive correlation between providing creative art therapy and the quality of life of the individual. Sigman discounts programs that use are as a space-filler and not as a method and tool to provide emotional stability to their cohabitants. However, Sigman does not define the age range or background information of the patients residing in these long-term facilities. Are they elderly? Are they disabled? What are their demographics? This article provides new information such as creative arts has a positive effect on the quality of life in individuals of a long-term care facility that will be of interest to scholars and educators interested in the emotional, physical, and spiritual impact of art therapy.
Tsutsumi, M., Hirose, H., Nogaki, H., Kinoshita, H., Mizuta, K., Yamaguchi, K., & Yoshimura, T. (2014). Effects of Journal Writing on Cognitive Function in Older People. Bull Yamaguchi Med School, 61(1-2), 15-22.
The authors, and researchers from Japan, published a study that discusses the link between creative writing and helping prevent dementia in the elderly. The study followed a 227 elderly people over the age of sixty-five in either located at home or in a care facility within Japan. A baseline was test was given to measure the cognitive function, and writing ability of the 227 participants. The researchers visited the participants, interviewed them to collect data, and used the Kana Pick-Out Test to examine their cognitive function. The results yielded that there was a significant difference between the individuals that had experience journal writing over the past ten years, and those that had little to no journal writing experience within the past ten years. Thus, the results found a strong correlation between journal writing and cognitive function for the individuals within the study. It is important to note that the study has found a correlation between cognitive function, and journal-writing, but cannot be acknowledged as a preventative treatment to Dementia. This article provides new information such as creative writing and journaling have a positive effect on the cognitive state of the elderly that will be of interest to scholars and educators interested in the emotional, physical, and spiritual impact of art therapy.
Vazquez, S. (2008). Using Art Therapy to Express Your Self. Counselor Education Master’s Theses, 109, 1-48.
Vazquez (2008) publication presents a study conducted on a college campus that focused on treating students and faculty on a college campus with art therapy services provided through the university counseling and health center. At the completion, a survey was administered to everyone associated with the services to the counseling and health center. 108 surveys were returned to create the data Vazquez uses within her report. The surveys were all conducted anonymously. The surveys revealed that many individuals on the college campus have never heard of art therapy, but would be very interested in the school providing such services to the community. Ninety-six of 108 participants believe that art therapy would impact the campus and community in a positive way. Since the surveys were anonymous, it was difficult to see if there a demographic difference. Alike, it would be interesting to provide a baseline test of the individual, and then have complete a course involving art therapy—to later follow-up with the same test as earlier. This article provides new information such as art therapy programs can have a positive effect on a college campus as a way of treatment that will be of interest to scholars and educators interested in the emotional, treatment, and physical well-being of college students.
Wood, M.J., Molassiotis, A., & Payne, S. (2010). What Research Evidence is there for the Use of Art Therapy in the Management of Symptoms in Adults with Cancer? A Systematic Review. Psycho-Oncology, 20, 135-145.
Wood, Molassiotis, and Payne’s (2010) publication in Psycho-Oncoloy journal focuses on a meta-analysis of literature, journals, publications, interviews, questionnaires, and surveys that focused on any cancer-based art therapeutic studies conducted. The results yielded that fourteen papers met the inclusion of the criteria—12 of the reports included studies. The conclusion of the literature review is that art therapy is very new to the cancer-treatment industry; however, art therapy is a psychotherapeutic approach in which can be used to assist in cognitive, emotional, spiritual, and physical cancer treatment symptoms, and repercussions. Interestingly enough, the article was published in 2010 with not updates on the meta-analysis since then. Thus, the present data revealed within this article is lacking at this moment in time, and would require additional research to verify the validity—for in my own research, I had found over a dozen articles that were written in regards of using art-therapy to treat cancer patients. I intend to research the articles cited in the meta-analysis to further my knowledge of cancer-related art therapy, and better assist the development of my proposal. This article provides information via a meta-analysis on the art therapy studies and programs that are available, and to be used as a data-base of the positive effect on the cognitive state of the patients through art therapy that will be of interest to scholars and educators.
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