Art therapy and mental health outcomes: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis

Mental disorders remain a global health challenge, and conventional treatments often fall short. Art therapy (AT) shows promise as a complementary approach, yet evidence beyond depression and anxiety, such as loneliness, well-being, and cognition, remains limited.

This updated systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the associations between AT and five outcomes: loneliness, psychological well-being, depression, anxiety, and cognitive function.

Following PRISMA guidelines, five major databases (PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, CINAHL, and Medline) were searched for randomized controlled and quasi-experimental studies published from 2010 to 2024. Eligible studies assessed AT interventions for mental health outcomes. Data were pooled to estimate mean differences (MDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

Twenty-nine studies (11 RCTs and 18 quasi-experimental studies) involving 2,077 participants aged 13-90 years were included. AT was associated with improvements in psychological well-being (MD = 5.33), depression (MD =  -3.67), anxiety (MD =  -4.96), and cognitive function (MD = 1.50; all p < 0.001). Loneliness demonstrated a non-significant but potentially favorable trend (MD =  -3.97, p = 0.06), particularly in socially embedded formats.

AT demonstrates potential relevance as a complementary intervention within mental health care, particularly among aging populations experiencing increasing psychological and cognitive health challenges.