The use of art therapy in complex treatment on the quality of remission in patients with melancholy in major depressive disorder

Introduction According to studies done in recent years regarding the treatment of patients with melancholy in major depressive disorder, a shift of interest from studies evaluating the effectiveness of therapy to the study of remission is seen. Despite significant progress in the development of pharmacotherapy of depressive disorders, difficulty in achieving rapid reduction in depressive symptoms and stable remission in patients with melancholic depression necessitated the search for new approaches to the treatment of this pathology. Aims Evaluating the effectiveness of art therapy in treatment in patients with melancholy in major depressive disorder on the quality of remission. Methods The study involved 135 patients – 60 male and 75 female patients aged from 18 to 30 years old. The main group of patients apart the combined treatment also participated in group art therapy with the use of drawing techniques, while the control group – statutory standard therapy. Results The results of the use of art therapy in complex treatment in patients with major depressive disorder is detected primarily in reducing of the level of anxiety at the early stages of treatment (60% of patients have noticed decreasing of melancholic state), as well as improving the quality of life in remission period. Conclusion These results support the use of art therapy in treatment in patients with melancholy in major depressive disorder during period of active treatment, and after achieving clinical remission contributes to achieving and maintaining high-quality and stable remission with full restoration of quality of life and social functioning.