An Exploration of the Literature on the Effectiveness of Art Therapy for People Experiencing Psychosis During Acute Psychiatric Inpatient Hospitalisation

Abstract

Up to 10 per cent of the general population have had visual and auditory hallucinations at some point in their life, and many people hold beliefs that others around them find obscure or worrying – all indicators of psychosis. While some learn to cope with these experiences of psychosis, many find them distressing and seek professional help. Previous studies have shown that art therapy benefits people experiencing psychosis as a stand-alone diagnosis or as a symptom of schizophrenia. However, these studies do not take into consideration acute psychosis. Individuals experiencing extreme distress due to their psychotic experiences may be admitted to acute psychiatric inpatient hospitals. Alongside medication, they are offered limited face to face time from doctors and nurses to process the traumatic experiences and emotions which triggered psychosis. Previous studies have shown the benefits which art therapy has to offer to people who are admitted to acute wards, including empowerment, gaining control over their recovery and challenging stigma. However, these studies exclude patients with acute psychosis. Therefore, the research and theory on the benefits of art therapy for people experiencing psychosis during their acute hospital admission, is limited. This literature review addresses the existing literature and theory on art therapy and psychosis and on art therapy in acute settings for non-psychosis related illnesses. This will enable a discussion on the possible benefits of art therapy for people experiencing psychosis in acute settings. The findings of the review are used to offer recommendations for future practice, considering how art therapy can contribute to a person’s recovery from psychosis, both during their acute admission and once they are discharged into the community. Keywords: art therapy, psychosis, schizophrenia, inpatient psychiatry, acute, short-term