title: Creative art therapy to enhance rehabilitation for stroke patients: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the efficacy of creative art therapy plus conventional physical therapy, compared with physical therapy only, in increasing cognitive ability, physical functions, psychological status and quality of life of stroke patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized controlled trial with blinded assessor.
  
  
  METHODS
  An in-patient setting PARTICIPANTS: One hundred and eighteen stroke patients aged ⩾50 years who could communicate verbally.
  
  
  METHODS
  All participants received conventional physical therapy five days per week. An intervention group received additional creative art therapy, twice a week for four weeks, in a rehabilitation ward.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cognitive function, anxiety and depression, physical performance and quality of life were measured with the Abbreviated Mental Test, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the modified Barthel Index scale and the pictorial Thai Quality of Life questionnaire, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean differences for the intervention group were significantly greater than the control group for depression (-4.5, 95% CI -6.5, -2.5, p< 0.001), physical functions (1.2, 95% CI 0.1, 2.3, p= 0.043) and quality of life (8.9, 95% CI 3.8, 13.8, p< 0.001).Compared with baseline measures, both groups experienced improved cognition, physical functions and quality of life and reduced anxiety and depression. Eighty-five percent of patients were satisfied with the creative art therapy and most reported improved concentration (68.5%), emotion (79.6%), self-confidence (72.2%) and motivation (74.1%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Creative art therapy combined with conventional physical therapy can significantly decrease depression, improve physical functions and increase quality of life compared with physical therapy alone.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: Ratcharin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kongkasuwan
authors.affiliation: Artfield Art Therapy, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: Kotchakorn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Voraakhom
authors.affiliation: Artfield Art Therapy, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: Prim
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pisolayabutra
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: Pichai
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Maneechai
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: Jiraporn
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Boonin
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand vilai.kup@mahidol.ac.th.
authors.forename: Vilai
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kuptniratsaikul
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001155:Art Therapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D020127:Recovery of Function; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Creative art therapy; activity of daily living; depression; quality of life; stroke