A Narrative Review of the Literature around Art Psychotherapy as an Intervention for Mothers Experiencing Postpartum Depression
Abstract
Objective: This dissertation focuses on what psychodynamic studies have found on
mothers with postpartum depression (PPD), followed by the rationale of art
psychotherapy for distressed mothers through the perspective of neurobiology.
Furthermore, this paper will explore the effects of art psychotherapy and other
creative interventions, such as music, on postpartum mothers in distress. It then
provides a summary of overall findings, gaps in studies and further
recommendations for future research in the context of working with mothers with
PPD.
Methods: A narrative literature review was chosen as the methodology, aiming to
investigate and summarise what has been previously studied. Literature was
retrieved through the database search of CINAL Plus, MEDLINE, ProQuest Central,
and Google scholar. English language and full-text published and unpublished articles
and books were also included.
Conclusions: Through the process of thematic analysis, the author identified four key
themes: 1) There is a significant association between adverse childhood experiences
(ACEs) and PPD. 2) Group art psychotherapy intervention has proven to be effective
in alleviating a sense of isolation, shame, loss of self and in turn offering mothers
space and supporting for the transition into motherhood through self-reflection,
rebuilding new identity whilst creating resilience. 3) Combined art and music therapy
as an emergent field to be studied for mothers with PPD. 4) Dual experience
researchers, both as former service users for the health care service and as art
psychotherapists, might be beneficial in providing first-hand lived experience of
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postpartum difficulties and appropriate insight into carefully designing research
questions and methods.