The value of art therapy in antenatal and postnatal care: A brief literature review with recommendations for future research

ABSTRACT

There is a very small body of literature addressing the use of the arts or art therapy in antenatal and postnatal care, and much of it is qualitative, including some rich and complex data which are worthy of discussion and consideration. Overall, it points to a promising use of supportive and therapeutic arts in this area. This article presents some background on the use of the arts specifically focusing on postnatal depression and birth trauma. It then moves on to present a brief survey of literature in the field, followed by some further reflections and discussion about further research needed to establish clinical utility and economic viability.

KEYWORDS:

• Art therapy and motherhood
• arts and maternal health
• arts and postnatal care
• birth trauma and art
• maternity and art
• childbirth and arts-based support

Acknowledgement

Thanks to Dr Charley Baker, Lecturer in Mental Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, School of Health Sciences, University of Nottingham, Royal Derby Hospital for her assistance with several of the above references.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Dr Susan Hogan is Professor of Cultural Studies and Art Therapy at the University of Derby and a Professorial Fellow at the Institute of Mental Health, Nottingham. For more information about the Birth Project and to see the project films and reports (AHRC grant ref. AH/K003364/1), please visit: http://www.derby.ac.uk/health-and-social-care/research/birth-project/

Dr David Sheffield is Professor of Psychology at the University of Derby, where he is Associate Head of the Centre for Psychological Research. Professor Sheffield is a Chartered Psychologist and a Health Psychologist.

Dr Amelia Woodward is a researcher in the College of Health & Social Care Research Centre at the University of Derby.

Notes

1 The average cost to society of each case of perinatal depression is c. £74,000 (of which £23,000 relates to the mother and £51,000 relates to effects on the child). Further, each case of perinatal anxiety (when not combined with depression) is estimated at £35,000 per case, of which £21,000 relates to the mother and £14,000 to impacts on the child. For each case of perinatal psychosis, the overall costs are c. £53,000 (with costs relating to the mother at £47,000 per case, and a lack of clear evidence on the long-term costs of impacts for the child) (Bauer et al., 2014, p. 2).

2 Phenomenology is the study of subjective experience.

3 Inchoate feelings are incipient or imperfectly formed.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Arts and Humanities Research Council [grant number AH/K003364/1].