Effectiveness of mindfulness-based art therapy for symptoms of anxiety, depression, and fatigue: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background and purpose: Many people with chronic medical conditions experience symptoms that are complex and negatively impact their quality of life (QOL). This review and meta-analysis examined the benefits of mindfulness based art therapy (MBAT) to relieve symptoms. Methods: Included were studies that (a) evaluated an MBAT intervention in adults, (b) included a sufficient effect size and control group, and (c) assessed symptoms and QOL outcomes. Results: Fourteen studies sampling adolescents and adults met inclusion criteria. Participants who received MBAT interventions reported significant improvements in psychological and physical symptoms indices compared to controls; the meta-analysis MBAT interventions revealed a medium effect size whereas that for controls the effect size was equivalent to zero. Conclusion: MBAT is a promising intervention for symptom relief. However, the literature is limited by the small number of studies. Randomized controlled trials with larger samples are needed to validate findings.