A pilot randomized clinical trial of biomedical link with mental health in art therapy intervention programs for alcohol use disorder: Changes in NK cells, addiction biomarkers, electroencephalography, and MMPI-2 profiles.

OBJECTIVE: Alcohol intake is a major risk factor for various diseases. Elucidating alcohol use disorder (AUD) is important in preventing diseases and promoting health. We aimed to investigate the effect of art therapy on emotional (Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 [MMPI-2]) and physical (natural killer [NK] cell count, expression of stress-associated proteins [SAP], and electroencephalography) changes in patients with AUD. METHODS: Participants were randomly divided into two groups (n = 35), with the experimental group undergoing art therapy involving weekly 60-min group therapy sessions for 10 weeks. Statistical analysis was performed using Ranked ANCOVA and Wilcoxon's signed rank test. Western blotting was performed to analyze serum SAP levels. RESULTS: We observed an association between psychological mechanisms and stress proteins. There was an increased number of NK cells in the experimental group after the program. Moreover, compared with the control group, the experimental group showed significant changes in SAP expression. Further, the experimental group showed a positive change in the MMPI-2 profile, as well as a decrease in depression, anxiety, impulsivity, and alcohol dependence. CONCLUSIONS: Continuous psychological support could be applied as a stress-control program for preventing stress recurrence and post-discharge relapse. Our findings strengthen the link between biomedical science and mental health in rehabilitation treatment for AUD.

Effects of Nature-Based Group Art Therapy Programs on Stress, Self-Esteem and Changes in Electroencephalogram (EEG) in Non-Disabled Siblings of Children with Disabilities.

The purpose of the present study was to examine changes in brain waves, stress, and self-esteem after a continuous eight-week nature-based art therapy program in the forest in non-disabled siblings of children with disabilities. A total of 29 participants participated in this study (art therapy program group, n = 18; control group, n = 11). The art therapy program group received eight weekly sessions of art therapy lasting 60 min each. Pre- and post-test results showed positive changes in the brain function index and stress levels of the participants in the art therapy program group. On the self-esteem scale, overall and social self-esteem increased significantly. In conclusion, creative activities in the forest can increase resistance to diseases through mechanisms that relieve stress and increase self-esteem. If art therapy that emphasizes somatosensory experience, creative expression, and self-motivation is accompanied by forest activities, this combined intervention can elicit positive physical and psychological changes.