Marseille 2007
| Abstract #54 - ART THERAPY AS A PSYCHOTHERAPEUTIC SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR PERSONS LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS | ||||
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Session: 6.35: Posters A (Poster) on Monday in Chaired by Authors: Presenting Author: Mr Douglas Amonite - N/A, Canada |
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| Aim: For many people, testing positive for HIV can be a traumatic and life altering experience. Living with HIV/AIDS means living with the threat of dying, isolation from friends and family, and loss of job and income. Helplessness, fear, guilt, anger, and shame are all common reactions that may lead to periods of depression and anxiety including feelings of social isolation, disturbing intrusive thoughts, suicidal ideation, hopelessness, and impaired self esteem. Emotional support from friends and family can be helpful. However, some individuals find that talking about their experiences may be too difficult or may make things worse. One-to-one art therapy (OSAT) is an intervention for people living with HIV/AIDS and who have difficulty reflecting on their experiences. This project evaluated OSAT to determine if it reduced symptoms of depression and anxiety, as well as provided improvement in social and occupational functioning. Also measured was improvement in these areas related to reduced risk behaviour. | ||||
| Method / Issue: Participants received 10 one to one sessions of art therapy delivered by trained art therapists to individuals living with HIV/AIDS who have demonstrated psychological symptoms related to HIV/AIDS and other traumas and for whom group treatment is contraindicated. After a four week waiting period (as control), participants were randomized to one of five art therapists. There were pre, post, and six month follow up assessments. | ||||
| Results / Comments: Thirty-seven participants were enrolled in the study. Of those enrolled, five participants completed the baseline measures only, four dropped out before completing of the programs 10 sessions, four completed more than five sessions (but less than 10) and 24 people completed the required 10 sessions of art therapy. The mean age of study participants was 43, 11% of participants reported be either employed full or part-time, 11% percent were self-employed, 13% held volunteer employment, 13% were unemployed and 42% reported being on long-term disability. Sixteen percent of participants had a monthly income of $1,000 or less, 36% reported having an income in the range of $1,000 - $2,000 and 19% of participants had a monthly income of over $2,000. The majority of participants reported being single (68%); 13% lived with a partner. The study intervention and data collection are almost complete. There are a few remaining six month follow-ups that will become due in the coming months. Data analysis is underway using the measures collected at the pre and post time points. While the results of the analysis are pending, the presentation will focus on the final study results and conclusions. | ||||
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