Brief Cognitive Behavioral Art Therapy for Anxiety Disorders

• Other Authors: Morris, Frances (authoraut)
• Format: Others
• Language: English; English
• Published: Florida State University
• Subjects: Arts > Study and teaching
• Online Access: http://purl.flvc.org/fsu/fd/FSU_migr_etd-7518

Using a single subject research design, two university students, one with Panic Disorder with Agoraphobia (PDA) and one with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), received seven individual, one-hour sessions incorporating art therapy components into a model of brief cognitive behavioral therapy for anxiety and panic. Sessions in the GAD case were conducted through Internet video chats. Foci of therapy included: psychoeducation, identification and development of support systems, breathing retraining, cognitive restructuring, interoceptive exposure, in vivo exposure, and relapse prevention. Outcomes on symptoms of both disorders were measured using daily self-report ratings completed by both participants. Panic frequency and some features of fear of fear (panic expectancy and expected aversiveness) and agoraphobia (amount of avoidance) were significantly reduced in Case 1 with PDA. Reductions in other measures of fear of fear (maximum fear of panic) and agoraphobia (agoraphobic anxiety) were marginally significant in Case 1 as was reduction in general anxiety in Case 2 with GAD. There was no significant change in general anxiety in Case 1 or general feelings of goodness in either case. === A Thesis submitted to the Department of Art Education in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science. === Summer Semester, 2013. === June 20, 2013. === cognitive behavioral art therapy, generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder === Includes bibliographical references. === Marcia Rosal, Professor Directing Thesis; David Gussak, Committee Member; Tom Anderson, Committee Member.