The Change in Psychoemotional State of Individuals With Dementia Syndrome Applying Art Therapy

NCT07097675 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: 2025-BE10-0004
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 71
• Locations: 0 countries
• Sites: N/A

Brief Summary

Due to global demographic changes, a notable trend of population aging has emerged, resulting in an increased prevalence of health conditions typically associated with the elderly. One such condition is cognitive impairment-dementia syndrome. Currently, 40,000 cases of dementia are registered in Lithuania (Health Information Centre), with projections estimating 81,000 cases by 2050 \[13\]. The care of individuals with dementia syndrome requires a holistic approach, incorporating both pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions. The effectiveness of pharmacological treatment is limited: no highly effective drugs currently exist for Alzheimer's disease (available drugs have limited pathogenetic and symptomatic effects), there are no specific treatments for other forms of dementia, and the long-term use of medications to manage behavioral symptoms is associated with adverse effects. The OECD equates the routine use of neuroleptics with poor quality care \[2\]. Furthermore, even when medications are prescribed, non-pharmacological interventions should be applied concurrently \[5\]. One recommended method is arts therapy. Art therapy is a recognized psychosocial treatment that improves attention, perception, memory, and mood in people with dementia. However, there is a lack of studies evaluating the effectiveness of art therapy specifically in improving the psycho-emotional state of individuals with dementia syndrome. Pharmacological treatments commonly used for dementia syndrome offer limited long-term benefits \[23\]. As the number of individuals affected by dementia continues to grow, increasing attention is being paid to improving their quality of life, social integration, and emotional well-being through non-pharmacological means. International guidelines recommend creative and artistic activities tailored to individual preferences, skills, and abilities, including music and dance \[19\]. One of the increasingly recognized interventions is art therapy \[5\]. Systematic review findings support the inclusion of various psychological interventions in the treatment of individuals with dementia who suffer from depression and/or anxiety disorders \[3\]. Globally, research most commonly explores the impact of art therapy on cognitive functions, quality of life, behavior, and psychological well-being in individuals with dementia \[3; 4\]. However, the FEATS scale is rarely used to assess emotional state changes. Although psycho-emotional issues are highly relevant and widely studied, relatively few studies explore these within the context of art therapy. Most existing research is qualitative, with a lack of quantitative studies. The novelty of this planned study lies not only in the specificity of the participants but also in the application of the FEATS scale. While FEATS is widely used in research, few studies apply this instrument to explore the psycho-emotional state of people with dementia syndrome. The scale's authors and other researchers recommend expanding its use across diverse populations to assess its validity for different patient groups \[10; 21\]. This study will help reveal the effectiveness of art therapy as a non-invasive and non-pharmacological intervention for improving the psycho-emotional state of individuals with dementia syndrome. The research findings will contribute positively to patient well-being and the advancement of nursing science. Art therapy sessions are expected to improve participants' emotional state and reduce signs of anxiety, depression, and stress. This will provide scientific evidence of the effectiveness of art therapy and allow for the validation of the FEATS scale for assessing the psycho-emotional state of people with dementia syndrome.

Conditions

Dementia

Keywords

dementia; art therapy; depression; anxiety; stress

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scales (DASS-21)

  The DASS-21 is intended to evaluate the severity of depression, anxiety, and stress. It consists of 21 statements divided into three subscales. Each subscale contains seven items grouped by similar content. The depression subscale measures dysphoria, hopelessness, devaluation of life, self-deprecation, lack of interest/involvement, anhedonia, and inertia. The anxiety subscale assesses autonomic arousal, physiological responses, situational anxiety, and subjectively experienced anxiety. The stress subscale evaluates difficulty relaxing, nervous tension, sudden sadness, irritability, and excessive reactivity or impatience. The reliability of the Lithuanian version of the DASS-21 is sufficient, making it suitable for use with the Lithuanian population. Each item is scored from 0 (no symptom) to 3 (very strong expression of the symptom). Subscale scores are calculated by summing the scores of the respective items.

  Baseline and after 6 weeks

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Formal Elements Art Therapy Scale (FEATS)

  Baseline and after 6 weeks

Study Arms (1)

Art Therapy

EXPERIMENTAL

Behavioral: Art Therapy

Interventions

Art Therapy BEHAVIORAL

Art Therapy Session Plan The sessions are designed to stimulate positive feelings, satisfaction, and calmness while reducing social isolation and fostering group connections. The focus will be on pleasant experiences and positive life moments, with an emphasis on identifying current strengths and capabilities. Every session begins with a sharing activity: "Name three good things that happened this morning" or "Name three things you are grateful for today." Session Structure: Mood check-in → Warm-up task → Main task → Reflection → Mood check-out.

Art Therapy

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 60 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• diagnosed with dementia;
• MMSE ≥11 (mild to moderate cognitive impairment);
• stable somatic condition;
• vision and hearing sufficient to assess cognitive function and to administer interventions;
• familiar with the purpose and conduct of the study;
• signed an informed consent form.

You may not qualify if:

• MMSE \< 11 points (severe cognitive impairment);
• chronic, unstable somatic conditions;
• Inability to comprehend the tasks;
• Lack of knowledge of the Lithuanian language;
• Refusal to take part in the study.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Lithuanian University of Health Sciences: lead

Related Publications (3)

• Norkiene I, Jovarauskaite L, Kvedaraite M, Uppal E, Phull MK, Chander H, Halford K, Kazlauskas E. 'Should I Stay, or Should I Go?' Psychological Distress Predicts Career Change Ideation among Intensive Care Staff in Lithuania and the UK Amid COVID-19 Pandemic. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Mar 6;18(5):2660. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18052660.

  PMID: 33800903 BACKGROUND

• 1. Bikulčius, R. (2014). Application of scales and tests in assessing the physical, mental, and functional condition of the elderly. Gerontology, 15(1), 54-63.

  BACKGROUND

• 2. de Bienassis, K., Llena-Nozal, A., & Klazinga, N. S. (2020). The economics of patient safety Part III: Long-term care: Valuing safety for the long haul.

  BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Dementia; Depression; Anxiety Disorders

Interventions

Art Therapy

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Brain Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Neurocognitive Disorders; Mental Disorders; Behavioral Symptoms; Behavior

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Sensory Art Therapies; Complementary Therapies; Therapeutics; Rehabilitation; Aftercare; Continuity of Patient Care; Patient Care; Psychotherapy; Behavioral Disciplines and Activities

Central Study Contacts

Aušra Sebeikaitė, master

CONTACT

+370 652 90466; ausra.sebeikaite@lsmu.lt

Jūratė Macijauskienė, professor

CONTACT

+370 37 327 234; jurate.macijauskiene@lsmu.lt

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: SUPPORTIVE CARE
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: PhD student, lecturer

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: July 9, 2025
• First Posted: July 31, 2025
• Study Start: September 1, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): December 1, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 1, 2027
• Last Updated: July 31, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-07

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share