Group art therapy for the management of fear of childbirth

ConclusionsOur findings suggest that art therapy is an efficient method for reducing clinical FOC and levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms in pregnant women in the final trimester. This arts therapy programme enabled these shifts in behaviour by helping women face and express their fears through their artwork (drawing) and then gain control over their fears (mandala-making, puppet-making, taking photographs and collage-making) within a secure base and an on-going social support system provided by the group structure. Group art therapy seems to be a cost-effective therapeutic approach for targeting a larger number of people in a limited time with a limited number of therapists.
Source: Arts in Psychotherapy - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research