Monaco Francesco, Vignapiano Annarita, Landi Stefania, Panarello Ernesta, Di Gruttola Benedetta, Gammella Naomi, Adiutori Silvia, Acierno Eleonora, Di Stefano Valeria, Pullano Ilaria, Corrivetti Giulio, Steardo Luca
Department of Mental Health, ASL Salerno, 84121 Salerno, Italy.
European Biomedical Research Institute of Salerno (EBRIS), 84125 Salerno, Italy.
J Clin Med. 2025 Jul 27;14(15):5298. doi: 10.3390/jcm14155298.
Art therapy is increasingly recognized as a valuable complementary intervention for individuals with eating disorders (EDs), who frequently experience comorbid anxiety and difficulties with emotional regulation. However, few studies have examined its short-term effects on state and trait anxiety within structured clinical settings. This pilot study involved 19 adolescent females (mean age 17.7 ± 2.1 years) diagnosed with anorexia nervosa (AN) or bulimia nervosa (BN) and admitted to the Mariconda Regional Residence for Eating Disorders (ASL Salerno, Italy) in residential or semi-residential treatment. Participants completed a structured six-week cycle of weekly textile-based art therapy sessions, designed to promote emotional expression and body reconnection. State and trait anxiety levels were assessed pre- and post-session using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Repeated-measures ANOVA was used to analyze state anxiety changes; a linear mixed-effects model was applied to trait anxiety. State anxiety significantly decreased immediately after sessions ( = 0.002). A significant main effect of session ( = 0.01) and a time × session interaction ( = 0.025) indicated variability across sessions. Trait anxiety showed a non-significant trend toward reduction ( = 0.11); however, reductions were significant at sessions 4 ( = 0.015), 5 ( < 0.001), and 6 ( = 0.005). Art therapy may offer immediate reductions in state anxiety and may contribute to a longer-term reduction in trait anxiety with 4-6 sessions. These findings support integrating creative interventions within multidisciplinary ED treatment programs. Future research with larger samples and control groups is needed to confirm and expand upon these preliminary results.
艺术疗法越来越被认为是一种对饮食失调（ED）患者有价值的辅助干预措施，这些患者经常伴有焦虑症且在情绪调节方面存在困难。然而，很少有研究在结构化临床环境中考察其对状态焦虑和特质焦虑的短期影响。这项试点研究涉及19名被诊断患有神经性厌食症（AN）或神经性贪食症（BN）的青春期女性（平均年龄17.7±2.1岁），她们入住意大利萨勒诺省地方卫生当局的马里孔达饮食失调区域住院处接受住院或半住院治疗。参与者完成了一个为期六周的结构化周期，每周进行一次基于纺织品的艺术治疗课程，旨在促进情绪表达和身体重新连接。使用状态-特质焦虑量表（STAI）在课程前后评估状态焦虑和特质焦虑水平。重复测量方差分析用于分析状态焦虑的变化；线性混合效应模型应用于特质焦虑。课程结束后，状态焦虑立即显著降低（P = 0.002）。课程的显著主效应（P = 0.01）和时间×课程交互作用（P = 0.025）表明各课程之间存在差异。特质焦虑呈现出不显著的下降趋势（P = 0.11）；然而，在第4次（P = 0.015）、第5次（P < 0.001）和第6次（P = 0.005）课程时下降显著。艺术疗法可能会使状态焦虑立即降低，并可能有助于特质焦虑在4 - 6次课程后长期降低。这些发现支持将创造性干预措施纳入多学科饮食失调治疗方案。需要进行更大样本和有对照组的未来研究来证实并扩展这些初步结果。
