title: A randomized, controlled trial of mindfulness-based art therapy (MBAT) for women with cancer.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to gather data on the efficacy of a newly developed psychosocial group intervention for cancer patients, called mindfulness-based art therapy (MBAT). One hundred and eleven women with a variety of cancer diagnoses were paired by age and randomized to either an eight-week MBAT intervention group or a wait-list control group. Ninety-three participants (84%) completed both the pre- and post-study measurements. As compared to the control group, the MBAT group demonstrated a significant decrease in symptoms of distress (as measured by the Symptoms Checklist-90-Revised) and significant improvements in key aspects of health-related quality of life (as measured by the Medical Outcomes Study Short-Form Health Survey). This investigation of MBAT provides initial encouraging data that support a possible future role for the intervention as a psychosocial treatment option for cancer patients.
authors.affiliation: Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA. montil@pol.net
authors.forename: Daniel A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Monti
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Peterson
authors.forename: Elisabeth J Shakin
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Kunkel
authors.forename: Walter W
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Hauck
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pequignot
authors.forename: Lora
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rhodes
authors.forename: George C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Brainard
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001155:Art Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D015143:Philadelphia; D011788:Quality of Life; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*