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

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.     

Evaluation of a brief art psychotherapy group for adults suffering from mild to moderate depression: Pilot pre,post and follow-up study

Current therapies do not offer universal solutions for the ‘global burden’ of depression. By focusing on non-verbal communication and creativity, arts therapies might present a relevant treatment option but their effectiveness remains unclear. A pilot study was undertaken to evaluate a brief art therapy group for adults suffering from depression. Adults experiencing mild to moderate depression took part in art therapy and completed questionnaires at three points in time. The intensity of depression, levels of anxiety and general wellbeing were measured. Semi-structured interviews focused on participants’ expectations and experience of therapy. A decrease in depressive symptoms was observed immediately after the therapy and at the follow-up, and a trend for improvement of subjectively perceived wellbeing was recorded. Potential benefits of therapy recognised by participants included: acceptance of depression, readiness to express emotions, sense of self and awareness of others, readiness for meaningful relationships, sense of achievement, sense of balance and new insights, growth and meaning. The statistically significant results and participants’ experience indicate that art therapy may offer a valuable treatment option for depression, and further research is recommended. Future studies should explore ways of addressing both the outcomes and the process of therapy through creative methodological designs.     

‘It’s not all fun’: Introducing digital technology to meet the emotional and mental health needs of adults with learning disabilities

ABSTRACT

A project that began with an aspiration to introduce digital technologies into an arts therapies service turned into arts therapies taking a lead on these being introduced across all professions and services in a National Health Service (NHS) Learning Disabilities Service. This article can only give limited details of the project as a whole; rather, consideration is given to the benefits of digital technologies to adults with a learning disability, with particular focus on gesture-based technologies. Project design and methodology are described, followed by brief accounts of gesture-based technology (GBT) used across the spectrum of arts engagement and art therapy. Data from qualitative outcome measures inform discussion of the impact of and potential for gesture-based technology in arts therapies practice. In conclusion, we recommend areas for further investigation, and perhaps encourage others to overcome systemic barriers to introducing digital innovation.     

Etiology and body area of injuries in young female dancers presenting to sports medicine clinic: A comparison by age group

Introduction. Improving knowledge regarding injuries sustained by pediatric dancers is important in order to better understand injury risk. The aim of this study is to analyze dance injury etiology and body area by age in a cohort of young female dancers presenting to a pediatric sports/dance medicine clinic. Methods. The cross-sectional epidemiological study of a 5% probability sample of dancers evaluated between 1/1/2000 and 12/31/2009 with a musculoskeletal injury requiring physician evaluation. A total of 2,133 charts were reviewed from which 171 female dancers 8–17 years old (mean age 14.7 years) were identified. Data were stratified by age, <12 years and ≥12 years, and analyzed based on injury body area, type, and etiology. Fisher’s exact test was used to determine statistical significance. Results. Injuries sustained by dancers in the younger age category (<12 years) were largely to the foot-ankle/lower leg/knee (93.3%) versus thigh-hip/spine/upper extremity (6.7%). In comparison, dancers in the older age group (≥12 years) had a large proportion of injuries to the foot-ankle/lower leg/knee (67.3%) as well, but had a notably larger fraction of injuries to the thigh-hip/spine/upper extremity (32.7%; p = 0.04). Approximately two-thirds of the injuries sustained in the younger age group (<12 years) were classified as bony. In comparison, injuries in the older age group (≥12 years) were roughly half bony and half soft tissue (51.3% and 48.7%, respectively; p = 0.29). Most injuries were overuse in etiology for both younger and older age groups (86.7% and 82.1%, respectively; p = 1.00). Through puberty, there was a decline in the injuries to the foot-ankle/lower leg/knee. Conversely, there was an increase in the thigh/hip-pelvis/spine/upper extremity injuries through growth. Conclusions. Injuries to young female dancers in this study cohort were mostly categorized as overuse in etiology, and differed by the age group and the body area. Increased information regarding dance injuries can help guide future injury prevention efforts.     

“Against all odds”: Head chefs profiled

This study based on a survey of 170 head chefs provides the first comprehensive empirical data on the profile of head chefs in the Republic of Ireland. Eighty-four percent of head chefs were male and the majority (48.8%) were in their thirties. There is an increased rise in the attainment of degrees (currently at 35%), but findings showed that it takes years to advance in the industry, where there is a high rate of turnover. This article both reviews and adds to the international literature on the occupation of chef and raises questions for further research such as: Why are there so few female head chefs in Ireland? What is the best way to manage talent and improve retention of head chefs? Why are there more migrant head chefs working in restaurants rather than hotels? Findings from this may benefit industry stakeholders, employers, educators, and prospective culinary students.     

Hybrid structures and cultural diversity in welfare services for people with intellectual disabilities. The case of inclusive education and disability arts in Sweden

In this article, I deal with the professional and ethical implications within welfare organizations that are characterized by having what I refer to as a hybrid structure in inclusive education and disability arts in Sweden. The article is predominantly theoretical in its character and excerpts from empirical research are used primarily as illustrations of the theoretical issues and themes addressed. Empirical data was collected using qualitative research interviews and a digital web survey. The article suggests that hybrid structures carry both opportunities and threats, as such structures expose (welfare-) organizations to different sets of values and expectations. Both inclusive education and disability arts are constituted by somewhat antagonistic institutional logics. It is argued that this may cause professional ambiguity, considering that institutional logics inform the organizations about what is appropriate in relation to the daily work, e.g. aims, methods, ambitions, and professional relations. An important implication for further research is how teachers and school organizations, as well as cultural workers within social work organizations, deal with the risk of people with ID being stigmatized—through labelling, differentiation, or compensatory arrangements—without failing to address the fact that some individuals have, and always will have, special needs due to their ID.     

Représentation des cancers chez l’enfant

Résumé  Depuis 15 ans, le département de pédiatrie de l’Institut Gustave Roussy à Villejuif emploie un professeur d’arts plastiques de l’éducation Nationale. Sa pédagogie a d’adapter à ces enfants gravement malades. Elle reste à l’écoute des enfants, tout en leur proposant les moyens pédagogiques de réaliser leurs oeuvres. A l’occasion d’un travail sur l’autoportrait, les enfants ont pu se montrer tels qu’ils voulaient qu’on les voit: portrait réaliste ou sublimé. Certains ont pu aussi exprimer en peignant la douleur indicible d’une opération. La maladie n’en fait pas des artistes mais elle aiguise leur sensibilité. La création artistique les aide à se reconstruire en leur apportant du plaisir et de la joie, elle les emporte loin de la maladie et de la douleur.      

Performing arts medicine – Instrumentalist musicians Part I – General considerations

Performing arts medicine is a relatively new specialty addressing the medical needs of dancers, musicians, ice skaters, and gymnasts. This paper focuses on the role of healthcare providers in the diagnosis and therapeutic management of instrumentalist musicians. Musicians are at high risk for developing painful musculoskeletal problems, including pain and overuse injuries, entrapment and peripheral neuropathies, and focal dystonias. Musicians' careers are threatened, when they are no longer able to play their instrument because of pain and dysfunction. To appreciate music-related injuries, it is important that clinicians are familiar with the context of musicians' injuries and disorders.This is the first paper in a series of three. This paper discusses the importance of taking an extended history. The typical history procedures need to be broadened when interviewing musicians, and should include instrument-specific questions, and questions regarding practice habits, education, repertoire, and employment. The second article addresses the physical examination, while the third article provides three case reports of musicians with hand problems, which serve to illustrate the points made in the first two articles. The articles are illustrated with several tables and photographs of musicians to assist the reader in assessing instrumentalist musicians and determining the most appropriate course of action.     

在广泛的文化情境中思考课程设置

目前需要以高师院校美术教育学硕士生课作为教育过程的核心,在课程体系构建实践中得以不断改进完善。课程目标要结合课程设计来体现知识与技能、过程与方法等具体的课程内容,并注重联系科学和社会发展;课程要提出明确具体的结果性目标,要明确教学的过程性目标与体验性目标,并对教材编写和学生学习质量的评估加以充分考虑。     

我国学校美术教育的过去、现状和未来

本文通过文献资料回顾我国学校美术教育的起源、发展现状和展望其未来的发展趋势,并提出建议与措施。