Art therapy for breast cancer patients: New digital study launches

Bonn University Hospital and Alanus University of Arts and Social Sciences are seeking participants for a pilot study.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women. Both the disease itself and the treatment place a very heavy psychological and physical burden on those affected. Since February 2020, the Bonn University Hospital (UKB), in cooperation with Alanus University of Arts and Social Sciences, has been offering an art therapy treatment program for female cancer patients: on 26 April 2021, a new study will begin that uses art-based therapies after an initial breast cancer diagnosis. It is initially designed as a pilot study testing the effectiveness of art therapy in a virtual setting. The UKB is still looking for participants for this study.

As part of the digital accompanying study, participants will take part over two months in eight free art therapy sessions led by a trained art therapist. Breast cancer patients after an initial diagnosis, before and during chemotherapy, may participate – regardless of whether they are being treated at UKB/CIO Bonn or not.

“It is very important, especially during the coronavirus pandemic, to create an alternative for patients that enables them to continue receiving therapeutic support,” says Prof. Sabine Koch, Head of the Research Institute for Artistic Therapies at Alanus University of Arts and Social Sciences. She is optimistic about the project, as a scientific study by Dr. Dominik Havsteen-Franklin at Brunel University London already showed last year that art therapy in a digital setting represents a forward-looking form of therapy that met with great interest and acceptance. “The online therapy study is an initiative that gives people the opportunity to use this support service from home,” says Koch. Prof. Ingo Schmidt-Wolf, Director of the Department of Integrated Oncology at UKB, also emphasizes: “Especially now, when cancer patients must isolate themselves to protect themselves, a digital offering is indispensable and more important than ever. I am very pleased that we can continue to support our patients.” Prof. Andree Faridi, Director of the Breast Center at UKB, also says: “This study takes an exemplary approach by using creativity and passion as supportive therapy for coping with illness – whether alone, in a group, or online as well.”

Various recent studies show that art therapy can help patients cope better with the disease. “People in such extreme situations often find it difficult to put their feelings into words. Artistic therapies are therefore particularly suitable for treatment in existential life situations: they make it possible to integrate contradictory emotions, thoughts, and sensations and to communicate them nonverbally,” explains Harald Gruber, Professor of Art Therapy at Alanus University of Arts and Social Sciences.

As in the main study, the accompanying study will examine whether an improvement in well-being and self-efficacy as well as a reduction in symptoms with regard to stress, anxiety, and pain can be expected. In addition, a survey on acceptance will be conducted that also relates specifically to the virtual setting of the study.

Further information about the study is available by calling 0228/287-58678 or by email at CIO@ukbonn.de.

Photo: Nola Bunke