title: Individual brief art therapy can be helpful for women with breast cancer: a randomized controlled clinical study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Recent research shows that almost every second woman with breast cancer is depressed or has anxiety; the risk for younger women is even higher. Moreover, research shows that women are at risk for developing depression, also a threat for women with breast cancer. The aim of this randomized controlled clinical trial was to study the outcome of five sessions of art therapy given at a 5-week period of postoperative radiotherapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  The participants were between 37 and 69 years old; six participants in each group were below 50 years of age. Half of the participants (n = 20) received art therapy and the other half (n = 21) were assigned to a control group. At the first measurement, at least 17% (n = 7) of the participants medicated with antidepressants. Data were collected before and after art therapy and at a 4-month follow-up using self-rating scales that measure self-image (the Structural Analysis of Social Behaviour) and psychiatric symptoms (the Symptom Check List-90).
  
  
  RESULTS
  At follow-up, significant lower ratings of depression, anxiety, and somatic symptoms and less general symptoms were reported for the art therapy group compared to the control group. The regression analysis showed that art therapy relates to lower ratings of depression, anxiety, and general symptoms; chemotherapeutic treatment predicts lower depressive symptoms; in contrast to axillary surgery and hormonal treatment as well as being a parent predicts higher ratings of anxiety and general symptoms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The conclusion suggests that art therapy has a long-term effect on the crisis following the breast cancer and its consequences.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Science, Psychiatry Umea University, Umea, Sweden. karin.egberg.thyme@vll.se
authors.forename: Karin Egberg
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Thyme
authors.forename: Eva C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Sundin
authors.forename: Britt
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wiberg
authors.forename: Inger
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Oster
authors.forename: Sture
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aström
authors.forename: Jack
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lindh
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D001155:Art Therapy; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008875:Middle Aged