Benefits of Art therapy in Prison Population with a Diagnosis of Mental Illness: A Systematic Review

Art therapy is a form of psychotherapy that was introduced in psychiatric hospitals, where psychiatric patients used painting as a way to express themselves. Nowadays, it is used in prison and has positive effects such as stress and anxiety reduction, and decrease in rates of recidivism. The main ai...

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Bibliographic Details
Authors: Hidalgo Isern, Tamara (Author) ; Delgado Pastor, Luis Carlos (Author) ; Jiménez Torres, Manuel G. (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
Published: 2025
In: International journal of offender therapy and comparative criminology
Year: 2025, Volume: 69, Issue: 12, Pages: 1707-1725
Online Access: Volltext (lizenzpflichtig)
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Keywords:
Mental Disorder
results
improvements
Benefits
Effects
Inmates
Prison
artistic expression
art therapy
Description
Summary:Art therapy is a form of psychotherapy that was introduced in psychiatric hospitals, where psychiatric patients used painting as a way to express themselves. Nowadays, it is used in prison and has positive effects such as stress and anxiety reduction, and decrease in rates of recidivism. The main aim of this study was to analyze the effects of art therapy programs among the prison population with a diagnosis of mental illness. A systematic review was performed and a total of 12 studies were included. Positive results and beneficial effects were observed for this population; the most prominent is the decrease in the rate of recidivism. Art therapy is a form of therapy that is effective for improving socialization and decreasing anxiety and depressive symptoms in patients diagnosed with mental illnesses. It has been proved to decrease recidivism rates in inmates who participate in these programs.
ISSN:1552-6933
DOI:10.1177/0306624X241301213