Managing PTSD : mindfulness based cognitive therapy vs art therapy

Abstract

Overview of the topic: In this dissertation, a literature review was carried out regarding the comparison of mindfulness based cognitive therapy versus art therapy in the management for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This mental health disorder may develop after an individual is exposed to a traumatic event, for instance motor vehicle accidents, child abuse, sexual assault, warfare, or other threats to a person's life. The Research Question: Is Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy more effective in managing Posttraumatic Stress Disorder than Art Therapy? PICO Elements: The population (P) included children, adolescents or adults suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder. The intervention (I) was mindfulness based cognitive therapy in comparison with (C) art therapy. The outcome (O) of interest was the reduction of PTSD symptoms. Method: The main aspects of the PICO question and alternative search terms were combined using Boolean operators. Limiters such as date of publication and language were used to narrow down the search. The literature search was conducted in three databases: EBSCO, PubMed and Google Schoolar. Irrelevant articles were identified and excluded by using the PRISMA checklist. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were also used to determine eligible articles. The final list of selected studies were critically evaluated by using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) tool. Page | 3 Results: A total of five studies were selected, which were all randomised controlled trials. The pooled findings demonstrated that AT and MBCT are useful in managing symptoms of PTSD in various populations. However, all studies under review were limited by small samples, and thus further research with larger samples is required. Implications and Recommendations: Locally, art therapy is more widely used than mindfulness based cognitive therapy, but the availability of both therapies is still limited in mental health services. The findings suggest that both therapies should be more widely disseminated locally, as both promise to be highly effective in management of local patients with PTSD Conclusion: The evidence gathered shows that both therapies are valid, and no therapy is superior or inferior to the other. Thus, both therapies have value and should be used concurrently as a holistic treatment approach for PTSD.