Samenvatting

Common psychosocial difficulties of cancer patients are anxiety, depression and
fatigue. This systematic review focused on art therapy interventions and the effectiveness of
art therapy for cancer patients.
The purpose of this review was to research the evidence of using art therapy with
adult cancer patients to improve coping of psychosocial problems and management of
symptoms. The role of art therapy in cancer treatment will be discussed with the possibility of
increased innovative settings for art therapists in the future.
Different online databases were searched in this review. Articles were included or
excluded, based on predetermined criteria. The data analysis of all included articles was based
on a total of 1006 patients and included art therapy interventions, outcome evaluation and
results. Data extraction was conducted by two independent reviewers.
A total of 14 studies with the inclusion criteria. Measures were questionnaires, oral
narratives, and screening of psychosocial distress, depression, anger and fatigue, and quality
of life (QoL). Studies included different stages and types of cancer with 3 studies focusing on
breast cancer. Art therapy (AT) had the potential to decrease stress, anxiety and in most
studies depression. AT improved Qol, and the emotional support to cancer patients and also to
family caregivers.
In this review evidence was found that AT interventions improve coping skills and
self- awareness. AT benefits different symptoms of cancer patients in terms of decreasing
anxiety, depression, stress, pain, fatigue and increasing QoL. More studies, based on
methodological homogeneity with a larger sample size are needed to show the long term
effects of follow up studies.