international art therapy research

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International Art Therapy Research CollaborationsCathy Malchiodi, PhD, LPAT, LPCC© 2009 Cathy MalchiodiNovember 21, 2009, Dallas TX USA

International Art Therapy Research Collaborative

www.internationalartherapy.org

+International Art Therapy Research Collaborative

Sub-group of Art Therapy Alliance on LinkedIn: see http://www.arttherapyalliance.org

Project of the International Art Therapy Organization [IATO]

Discussion board currently on LinkedIn

Web page for information and posting of projects; see http://www.internationalarttherapy.org/research

+Art Therapy: One World, Many Visions

+Why an International Art Therapy Research Collaborative?

Personal interest in collaborative research: children’s drawings, development, and posttraumatic stress disorder

Involved in several global art therapy initiatives currently

Successful scientific methods involve collaboration between research teams

+Studies on Children and PTSD

From 2006 through present, conducting a study of children’s responses to a standard drawing task [human figure] and the impact of posttraumatic stress on their drawings [in contrast to control group].

Work with the International Criminal Court as consultant for the drawings by children of Darfur submitted as evidence of “war crimes.”

+Research Focus: Analysis vs. Outcome Studies

Art therapists are largely focused on collecting drawings for analysis or comparison

In contrast, the most requests International Art Therapy Organization receives are for efficacy or outcome study data– from public, professionals, and international media such as CBS and CNN

+Partnerships

International Child Art Foundation

National Institute for Trauma and Loss

Mad to Live

Combat Paper Project

+Cultural Issues: Defining Terminology

Meaning of the term “art therapy”

Art therapy many mean all the arts in some cultures

Art has a different meaning, as does “drawing,” “painting,” etc.

Art therapy is not necessarily a mental health discipline in all parts of the world.

Cultural meaning of term “research”

+Data Collection: Ethics & Diversity Issues

Adaptation of protocols to other cultures

Definition of scientific method in other countries

Informed consent may not be part of the language or rules

Let’s start to take a less “US-centric” view of ourselves as researchers and authorities

+Somewhat Parallel Universes…

Goldsmith College/ Professor Emeritus Diane Waller & International Center for Research in Arts Therapies [ICRA]

“The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) does mention art and music therapy in its various guidelines, but rarely. This is because despite over 60 years of extensive case study research and other qualitative projects, there are as yet very few examples of thorough systematic reviews and hardly any control group studies.”

+And something to really pay attention to…

Wikipedia says [one of the top hits on any search engine]… “Scientific research into the effectiveness of art therapy is lacking…Research into the effectiveness of art therapy is generally published in journals such as the Art Therapy Journal, which is maintained by the American Art Therapy Association, and is therefore evaluated primarily by practitioners and students of art therapy.”

“Assessment of the effectiveness of art therapy by individuals independent from the art therapy community is lacking…. The practice of art therapy therefore should not be considered a form of evidence-based medicine or evidence-based mental health treatment.”

Moral: Art therapy community needs to get over itself; outside peer review is essential for credibility.

+Contact Info…

Cathy Malchiodi, PhD, LPAT, LPCC

http://www.cathymalchiodi.com

International Art Therapy Organization

http://www.internationalarttherapy.org

info@theiato.org

Join the discussion on LinkedIn!

@ International Art Therapy Research Collaborative

Part of Art Therapy Alliance on LinkedIn