Effects of motivation interviewing using a group art therapy program on negative symptoms of schizophrenia

Abstract

Background: We investigated the effect of motivation interviewing using group art therapy on the negative symptoms of schizophrenia.

Methods: Participants were patients with chronic schizophrenia admitted to the D psychiatric wards in D city, Korea. There were 17 and 18 patients in the experimental and control groups, respectively. The data collection period was from November 28, 2016 to January 28, 2017. Motivation interviewing using group art therapy was conducted twice per week over 6 weeks (12 sessions in total).

Results: The significance of the intervention effects were confirmed via measures of negative symptoms, motivation and pleasure, interpersonal relationships, personal hygiene, and hospital program attendance. The experimental group exhibited significantly greater improvements in negative symptoms, motivation and pleasure, interpersonal relationships, personal hygiene, and hospital program attendance than did the control group.

Conclusions: The results showed that the motivation interviewing using group art therapy was an effective nursing intervention for the negative symptoms of schizophrenia.

Keywords: Group art therapy; Motivation interviewing; Negative symptoms; Schizophrenia.