The Effectiveness of Art Therapy in the Treatment of Traumatized Adults: A Systematic Review on Art Therapy and Trauma
Open accessAbstract
Art therapy has often been applied in the treatment of traumatized adults, and good results in clinical practice have been reported. However, although art therapy experts underline these benefits, the effectiveness of art therapy in trauma treatment has not been established by systematic review. The aim of this systematic review is to identify and evaluate empirical evidence of the effectiveness of art therapy for trauma treatment. As a result of the systematic review, six controlled, comparative studies on art therapy for trauma in adult patients were found. In half of the included studies, a significant decrease in psychological trauma symptoms was found in the treatment groups, and one study reported a significant decrease in depression. Although there are limitations in the number of included studies, the number of participants, the heterogeneity of included studies, and their methodological quality, the results contribute to insight into the effectiveness of art therapy in trauma treatment and form an evidence base for the urgent need for further research on art therapy and trauma treatment.
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
A substantial number of systematic reviews examine the effectiveness of art therapy regarding individual outcomes, such as trauma, anxiety, mental health in people who have cancer, dementia, and potential harms and benefits of the intervention.
“There is a substantial number of systematic reviews which examine the effectiveness of art therapy regarding individual outcomes, such as trauma [29–33], anxiety [19] mental health in people who have cancer [23, 34, 35] dementia [7], and potential harms and benefits of the intervention [36].”
From The effect of active visual art therapy on health outcomes: protocol of a systematic review of randomised controlled trials (2022) · cites this paper as [32]
Self-check
Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.
The self-check needs the paper’s full text.
Cites
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.
Widiger, T. A. (2000) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1037/10518-009 · Cited by 19,767 · see citing works
(1992) · Cited by 5,228 · see citing works
Verhagen, A., de Vet, H. D., de Bie, R. D., Kessels, A., Boers, M., Bouter, L., & Knipschild, P. (1998) · Journal of Clinical Epidemiology · doi:10.1016/s0895-4356(98)00131-0 · Cited by 2,473 · see citing works
A Multidimensional Meta-Analysis of Psychotherapy for PTSD
Bradley, R., Greene, J., Russ, E., Dutra, L., & Westen, D. (2005) · American Journal of Psychiatry · doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.162.2.214 · Cited by 1,938 · see citing works
Freeman, A. M. (2001) · The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry · doi:10.4088/jcp.v62n1112 · Cited by 1,670 · see citing works
The Body Keeps the Score: Memory and the Evolving Psychobiology of Posttraumatic Stress
van der Kolk, B. A. (1994) · Harvard Review of Psychiatry · doi:10.3109/10673229409017088 · Cited by 1,367 · see citing works
Bisson, J. I., Ehlers, A., Matthews, R., Pilling, S., Richards, D., & Turner, S. (2007) · British Journal of Psychiatry · doi:10.1192/bjp.bp.106.021402 · Cited by 900 · see citing works
Hudson, P. (2011) · British Journal of Guidance and Counselling · doi:10.1080/03069885.2010.550798 · Cited by 528 · see citing works
Ursano, R. J. (2002) · American Journal of Psychiatry · doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.159.10.1805-a · Cited by 463 · see citing works
Gene‐Cos, N. (2006) · Psychiatric Bulletin · doi:10.1192/pb.30.9.357-a · Cited by 281 · see citing works
Can Coloring Mandalas Reduce Anxiety?
Curry, N. A., & Kasser, T. (2005) · Art Therapy · doi:10.1080/07421656.2005.10129441 · Cited by 253 · see citing works
Cognitive behaviour therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder
Harvey, A. G., Bryant, R. A., & Tarrier, N. (2003) · Clinical Psychology Review · doi:10.1016/s0272-7358(03)00035-7 · Cited by 203 · see citing works
Art Therapy for Combat-Related PTSD: Recommendations for Research and Practice
Spiegel, D., Malchiodi, C. A., Backos, A. K., & Collie, K. (2006) · Art Therapy · doi:10.1080/07421656.2006.10129335 · Cited by 190 · see citing works
Posttraumatic stress disorder treatment outcome research: The study of unrepresentative samples?
Spinazzola, J., Blaustein, M., & van der Kolk, B. A. (2005) · Journal of Traumatic Stress · doi:10.1002/jts.20050 · Cited by 183 · see citing works
Empirical study on the healing nature of mandalas.
Henderson, P., Rosen, D., & Mascaro, N. (2007) · Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Arts · doi:10.1037/1931-3896.1.3.148 · Cited by 158 · see citing works
Support for a neurobiological view of trauma with implications for art therapy
Gantt, L. M., & Tinnin, L. W. (2008) · The Arts in Psychotherapy · doi:10.1016/j.aip.2008.12.005 · Cited by 151 · see citing works
Broken Spirits: The Treatment of Traumatized Asylum Seekers, Refugees, War and Torture Victims
McGorry, P. D. (2005) · Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry · doi:10.1080/j.1440-1614.2005.01709_1.x · Cited by 129 · see citing works
Verbal memory and treatment response in post-traumatic stress disorder
Wild, J., & Gur, R. C. (2008) · British Journal of Psychiatry · doi:10.1192/bjp.bp.107.045922 · Cited by 127 · see citing works
Visual Art Therapy's Unique Contribution in the Treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders
Avrahami, D. (2006) · Journal of Trauma & Dissociation · doi:10.1300/j229v06n04_02 · Cited by 96 · see citing works
Intensive trauma therapy of PTSD and dissociation: An outcome study
Gantt, L. M., & Tinnin, L. W. (2006) · The Arts in Psychotherapy · doi:10.1016/j.aip.2006.09.007 · Cited by 85 · see citing works
Robertson, M. S., Humphreys, L., & RAY, R. (2004) · Journal of Psychiatric Practice · doi:10.1097/00131746-200403000-00005 · Cited by 58 · see citing works
Art Speaks in Healing Survivors of War
Baker, B. A. (2005) · Journal of Aggression Maltreatment & Trauma · doi:10.1300/j146v12n01_10 · Cited by 48 · see citing works
Group Therapy With Male Asylum Seekers and Refugees With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
Drožđek, B., Kamperman, A. M., Bolwerk, N., Tol, W. A., & Kleber, R. J. (2012) · The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease · doi:10.1097/nmd.0b013e318266f860 · Cited by 47 · see citing works
Self-citationEvaluation of group therapy with traumatized asylum seekers and refugees—The Den Bosch Model.
Drožđek, B., & Bolwerk, N. (2010) · Traumatology An International Journal · doi:10.1177/1534765610388298 · Cited by 31 · see citing works
Spring, D. (2004) · Art Therapy · doi:10.1080/07421656.2004.10129690 · Cited by 27 · see citing works
Drožđek, B., & Bolwerk, N. (2010) · Traumatology An International Journal · doi:10.1177/1534765610388299 · Cited by 21 · see citing works
Trauma: diagnostiek en behandeling
Zeijlmans, I. A. (2008) · Psychologie & gezondheid · doi:10.1007/bf03077496 · Cited by 20 · see citing works
Essays on the Creative Arts Therapies: Imaging the Birth of a Profession
Johnson, D. R. (1999) · Cited by 19 · see citing works
Aerobe training bij schizofrenie. Verkennend onderzoek naar de effecten van psychomotore therapie
Vancampfort, D., Knapen, J., Binder, M. D., et al. (2010) · Lirias · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Henderson, P. (2009) · OakTrust (Texas A&M University Libraries) · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Flagged first, then by citations
Research works printed but not linked: 6
- Bisson, J. I., Ehlers, A., Matthews, R., Pilling, S., Richards, D., & Turner, S. (2007). Psychological treatments for chronic post- traumatic stress disorder: Systematic review and meta-analysis. British Journal of Psychiatry, 2, 97-104.
- Campbell, E. (2010). The effectiveness of art therapy in reducing the symptoms of trauma, anxiety and stress: A meta analysis (Unpub- lished thesis). Wheaton: Wheaton College Graduate School, Wheaton, IL. Retrieved from ProQuest Dissertation Publishing.
- Cohen, J. (1988). Statistical power analysis for the behavioural sciences (2nd ed.). Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
- Droz ˇd¯ek, B., Bolwerk, N., Tol, W. A., & Kleber, R. J. (2012). Group therapy with male asylum seekers and refugees with PTSD: A con- trolled comparison cohort study of three day-treatment programs. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 200, 758-765.
- Erickson, B. J. (2008). Art therapy treatment with incarcerated women (Unpublished dissertation). Dissertation Abstracts International Section A: Humanities and Social Sciences, 70(1-A), 100.
- Volker, C. A. (1999). Treatment of sexual assault survivors utilizing cognitive therapy and art therapy (Unpublished Dissertation). Dis- sertation Abstracts International: Section B. 60(5B), 2374.
Cited by
Sorted by citations
The brain-body disconnect: A somatic sensory basis for trauma-related disorders
Kearney, B. E., & Lanius, R. A. (2022) · Frontiers in Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fnins.2022.1015749 · Cited by 154 · see citing works
Abbing, A., Ponstein, A., van Hooren, S., de Sonneville, L., Swaab, H., & Baars, E. (2018) · PLOS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0208716 · Cited by 154 · see citing works
A systematic review of the efficacy of creative arts therapies in the treatment of adults with PTSD.
Baker, F. A., Metcalf, O., Varker, T., & O'Donnell, M. (2018) · Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy · doi:10.1037/tra0000353 · Cited by 107 · see citing works
Neuroimaging predictors of creativity in healthy adults
Sunavsky, A., & Poppenk, J. (2020) · NeuroImage · doi:10.1016/j.neuroimage.2019.116292 · Cited by 82 · see citing works
A systematic literature review of the impact of art therapy upon post-traumatic stress disorder
Schnitzer, G., Holttum, S., & Huet, V. (2021) · International Journal of Art Therapy · doi:10.1080/17454832.2021.1910719 · Cited by 75 · see citing works
Trauma-Focused Art Therapy in the Treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Pilot Study
Schouten, K. A., van Hooren, S., Knipscheer, J. W., Kleber, R. J., & Hutschemaekers, G. J. M. (2019) · Journal of Trauma & Dissociation · doi:10.1080/15299732.2018.1502712 · Cited by 71 · see citing works
Self-citationTowards a description of the elements of art therapy practice for trauma: a systematic review
Bowen-Salter, H., Whitehorn, A., Pritchard, R., Kernot, J., Baker, A., Posselt, M., Price, E., Jordan-Hall, J., & Boshoff, K. (2022) · International Journal of Art Therapy · doi:10.1080/17454832.2021.1957959 · Cited by 24 · see citing works
Joschko, R., Roll, S., Willich, S. N., & Berghöfer, A. (2022) · Systematic Reviews · doi:10.1186/s13643-022-01976-7 · Cited by 19 · see citing works
- Authors
- Schouten, K. A., de Niet, G. J., Knipscheer, J. W., Kleber, R. J., & Hutschemaekers, G. J. M.
- Affiliations
- Pro Persona (NL)
- ProCES, ProPersona, Centre for Education and Science, Wolfheze, the Netherlands
- Utrecht University (NL)
- Radboud University Nijmegen (NL)
- Corresponding author
- Schouten, Karin Alice
- Venue
- Trauma, Violence, & Abuse
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2014-11-16
- Volume
- 16
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 220-228
- ISSN
- 1524-8380 (ISSN-L)
- 1552-8324
- OpenAlex
- W2097554699
- Cited by
- 212
- References
- 30
- Citations by year
- 2026: 23 · 2025: 29 · 2024: 27 · 2023: 24 · 2022: 15 · 2021: 22 · 2020: 21 · 2019: 21 · 2018: 15 · 2017: 11 · 2016: 4
- FWCI
- 92.04
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- hdl.handle.net
- Locations
- Trauma Violence & Abuse (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Radboud Repository (Radboud University) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Conservation › Art Therapy and Mental Health
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychotherapy Techniques and Applications
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research
- Keywords
- art therapy, psychological trauma, trauma treatment, adults, trauma symptoms, depression, treatment effectiveness, psychotherapy
- MeSH terms
- Exposure to Violence, Adult, Art Therapy, Humans, Stress, Psychological, Treatment Outcome
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
