A pilot study to determine the psychological effects of manipulation of therapeutic art forms among patients with Parkinson's disease

Abstract

This pilot study investigated the effects of group process and manipulation of therapeutic art forms among patients with Parkinson's disease. It follows the earlier work demonstrating art therapy's positive effects on quality of life with patients diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. It is hypothesised that engagement in a six-week case control study involving art therapy for patients diagnosed with Parkinson's disease will decrease symptomology in areas of obsessive compulsive thinking, phobia, depression and stress. A licensed psychologist and a licensed and credentialed art therapist led this six-week case control study involving seven male participants diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. The group met weekly and had a focused discussion around a selected topic. Each was asked to then engage and manipulate different forms of clay in response to the weekly topic. Participants were assessed pre and post, at specific times, for symptomology in the areas of depression, obsessive compulsive thinking, phobia and stress. The results suggest that verbal discussion and art therapy intervention increased the participants' ability to explore and enhance their emotions individually and within a group, leading to a decrease in symptomology in areas of obsessive compulsive thinking, phobia, depression and stress.