Research aimed to explore the effects of art therapy on various aspects of the disease, including motor control, visuospatial dysfunction, cognition, mood, motivation, self-image, self-efficacy, interpersonal functioning, creativity, and overall quality of life in Parkinson’s disease patients. Engagement in arts can improve physical and mental health and well-being.
Long-term art engagement has proven prolonged health benefits including higher life satisfaction and eudaemonic well-being. In art therapy, a structured psychotherapeutic relationship, and integration of sensorimotor activity with cognition and affect, helps foster patients with self-esteem, self-awareness and resilience.
The study aimed to assess the impact of art therapy on Parkinson’s symptoms like motor control, visuospatial dysfunction and other functional and experiential domains. The art therapy intervention consisted of 20 structured group sessions conducted by professional art therapists, using a novel art-based scale developed specifically for this study, the HTP-PDS.
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The House Tree Person PD Scale (HTP-PDS) assesses motoric and visuospatial processing-core PD symptoms as well as cognition (thought and logic), affect/mood, motivation, self (including body-image, self-image, and self-efficacy), interpersonal functioning, creativity, and overall level of functioning. As a part of the assessment, participants had to draw a house, tree and person on a single sheet of paper.
Results of HTP-PDS scores across all symptoms and variables showed improvement significantly. The pre and post-treatment case examples of the participants were shown. Participant A’s pre-treatment drawing featured choppy strokes, scribbles and inconsistent fine-line placement. The drawing of a house showed visuospatial organization issues, and the human figure drawing showed a bold gesture but lacked genuine emotion showcasing a disconnection from the environment.
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Post-treatment drawings demonstrated significant improvement, where the lines were smoother and continuous and she displayed more control over line placement. The human figure was now integrated with the environment, indicating improved spatial organization. The past-treatment drawings conveyed improved mood, sense of self, and better connection with the environment.
The assessment scores from the study suggest a positive impact on artistic expression and aspects of well-being from participants, indicating that art therapy may be a valuable complementary intervention for Parkinson’s patients. The study found several biopsychosocial benefits that individuals with Parkinson’s disease benefitted from. Future research can investigate the mechanisms that underly these benefits.
