The PATCH Study; Painting Art Therapy to promote Child Health
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A feasibility study of art therapy to improve maternal depression and infant outcomes: The PATCH Study
IRAS ID
157890
Contact name
Orion Owen
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Cardiff & Vale University Health Board
Research summary
Research shows that children of mothers who are depressed and unresponsive to their child’s needs can develop attachment problems. Because antidepressants are unpopular with new mothers there is a need for psychotherapeutic intervention. Early interventions can lead to health benefits for mother and child and have been shown to be cost effective. Several small-scale studies show that art therapy can improve maternal depression and potentially the mother/child relationship.
This feasibility study will examine how mothers are best recruited to join a group based art therapy intervention and how they feel about the therapeutic approach used and methods for assessing their mood and interaction with infant’s over time. Eligible postnatal mothers (suffering with self-rated mild to moderate depression using the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) with their infants will be identified by their health visitors at a routine appointment in their home or clinic. They will be given participant information sheets and have the opportunity to ask further questions. Should they be happy to proceed they will then be recruited and consented by the study manager. Twelve mothers with infants will attend one of two 12 week art therapy groups. Groups will be run by an Art Therapist, Health Visitor and Nursery Nurse (interventionists). A sample of group sessions will be observed to assess how well the intervention is being delivered and provide further information to improve the therapeutic model. Mothers will be interviewed before and after taking part in the study to assess the acceptability of the study processes. Intervention staff will take part in a group interview following the final group session to assess their views on delivering the intervention.
This study is being funded by the Wales School for Primary Care Research.
REC name
South Central - Berkshire B Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/SC/1181
Date of REC Opinion
22 Aug 2014
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion