Title: Understanding clinical benefits of modeling clay exploration with patients diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. In: Arts & Health 2(2): 140-148.

Author(s): Robert Goldblatt, Deborah Elkis-Abuhoff, Morgan Gaydos, Anthony Napoli

Organisation(s): New York Institute of Technology, New York College of Osteopathic Medicine, New York, Hofstra University, Hempstead, New York, USA, Nassau University Medical Center, East Meadow, New York, State University of New York - Suffolk County Community College, Riverhead, New York

Categories: Arts, culture and health

Objectives: To report on a pilot study attempting to reduce negative ruminating thoughts in patients with Parkinson's disease engaged in a creative art therapy experience.

Key Findings: The hypothesis of this pilot study was that participants would significantly lower measures of depression, obsessive–compulsive symptoms, and phobic anxiety as a result of the manipulation of modeling clay. Quantitative results showed a positive outcome with a significant decrease in all three areas at a level similar to the average adult norm.

Methods: A single sample pretest–posttest research design was employed to assess the effects of modeling clay manipulation on self-report symptoms of psychopathology among Parkinson patients. A total of 22 patients (16 males, 6 females, mean age 71) diagnosed with Parkinson's disease completed the Brief Symptom Inventory pre- and post-session, and were asked to manipulate a ball of modeling clay and respond to follow up questions. Three measures were included as indicators for patients diagnosed with Parkinson's disease psychological adjustment: depression, obsessive–compulsive behaviors and phobic anxiety.