Art Therapy In The Treatment Of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: A Scoping Review Of Current Applications

Abstract

Objective: To examine the current evidence for the use of art therapy in Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) interventions among school-aged children. Background: Symptoms of ADHD often result in functional impairments among school-aged children, as well as associated socioemotional difficulties such as emotion dysregulation. Art therapy may be a promising age-appropriate alternative to common non-pharmacological clinical interventions for ADHD such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). Methods: We used a scoping review to investigate the current uses of art therapy in ADHD interventions. We conducted a systematic review of the literature and synthesized the current evidence through a descriptive analysis. Results: 13 studies met the inclusion criteria for analysis, which included art therapy as a primary intervention for school-aged children who met diagnostic criteria for ADHD. The review reflected limited research, with case studies comprising of the bulk of current research. This was sufficient for a thematic analysis, which identified key themes in the current uses of art therapy such as facilitating self-expression and behavioural management. Conclusion: While further evidence may be required before art therapy is incorporated into practice, current literature lends an understanding to how it can be used, either as a complement or promising alternative for treatment-resistant ADHD.