Provision and practice of art therapy for people with schizophrenia: Results of a national survey

Abstract

Background. Art therapy has been recommended as a treatment for people with psychosis. However, little is known about the availability, organisation or delivery of art therapy within NHS settings.

Aims. To describe the availability, structure and content of art therapy for people with schizophrenia provided by NHS services in England.

Methods. A survey of art therapists working in a randomly selected sample of half of all mental health Trusts in England.

Results. Not all mental health Trusts employ art therapists. Those which do employ few therapists, typically on a sessional basis who work across a variety of inpatient and community-based settings. Most art therapists report that their practice is underpinned by psychodynamically grounded understandings of psychosis. However, rather than seek to explore underlying dynamics, art therapists typically adopt a non-directive approach encouraging patients to use image making to express feelings and reflect on these in a concrete way to develop self-understanding. While three-quarters of respondents reported that their work was valued by colleagues, less than half considered art therapy well understood by colleagues or integrated with other services.

Conclusions. People diagnosed with schizophrenia have limited access to art therapy in NHS settings. Further research is needed to understand the experience and outcomes of art therapy to support its meaningful integration within the spectrum of care required to meet the needs of people with schizophrenia.

Keywords:

• Art therapy
• psychosis
• health services research

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank all those art therapists who took the time to complete the survey. The project was funded by a grant from Imperial College London. The funder played no role in the design or conduct of the study or in the writing of this report.