Anxiety reduction through art therapy in women. Exploring stress regulation and executive functioning as underlying neurocognitive mechanisms

PLoS One. 2019 Dec 3;14(12):e0225200. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0225200. eCollection 2019.

Abstract

Objectives: To explore possible working mechanisms of anxiety reduction in women with anxiety disorders, treated with art therapy (AT).

Methods: A RCT comparing AT versus waiting list (WL) condition on aspects of self-regulation. Stress regulation (heart rate and heart rate variability) and executive functioning (daily behavioural and cognitive performance aspects of executive functioning (EF)) were evaluated in a pre-post design. Participants were women, aged 18-65 years with moderate to severe anxiety symptoms.

Results: Effectiveness of AT compared to WL was demonstrated in a higher resting HRV post treatment, improvements in aspects of self-reported daily EF (emotion control, working memory, plan/organize and task monitor), but not in cognitive performance of EF, stress responsiveness and down regulation of stress. The decrease in anxiety level was associated with improvements in self-reported daily EF.

Conclusions: AT improves resting HRV and aspects of EF, the latter was associated with art therapy-related anxiety reduction.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Anxiety / physiopathology
  • Anxiety / psychology
  • Anxiety / therapy*
  • Anxiety Disorders / physiopathology
  • Anxiety Disorders / psychology
  • Anxiety Disorders / therapy*
  • Art Therapy*
  • Cognition / physiology
  • Executive Function / physiology*
  • Female
  • Heart Rate / physiology
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Stress, Psychological / psychology
  • Stress, Psychological / therapy*
  • Young Adult

Grants and funding

This study was co-funded by the Iona Foundation (www.iona.nl), Stichting AG Phoenix and the Dutch association of anthroposophic art therapy (NVKToag). These organisations had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.