Effect on scores of depression and anxiety in psychiatric patients after clay work in a day hospital

Art therapies are considered important interventions and a more humane approach to mental illness. Clay work is one such therapy. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of clay work on depression and anxiety in patients in a day hospital compared with patients who did not undergo therapy. This quantitative and qualitative study was conducted at Maxwell Day Hospital of Londrina, Paraná, Brazil. The survey was conducted with 24 patients, 12 of whom did not participate in clay work therapy (control group), and 12 of whom completed eight sessions of clay work (clay work group). Validated questionnaires for depression (Beck Depression Inventory) and anxiety (Spielberger's State-Trait Anxiety Inventory) were administered to patients in both groups. Depression and anxiety scores differed between the control and clay work groups. The score for the clay work group indicated mild depression (13 ± 0.97, p = 0.0039) while the score for the control group indicated moderate depression (23.1 ± 2.9). The clay work group tended to be less anxious than the control group, but this difference was not significant. This suggests that therapy with clay improves depression compared to no therapy.