This study purports to investigate what influence or effects, if any, the group art therapy
induces on cognitive functions and depression of the elderly with dementia. Study subjects
are 7 elderly people(two male, 5 female) with light dementia symptoms, chosen from the
daycare center of the OO hospital in D-city, who scored lower than 19 points in MMSE-K(Mini Mental State Examination-Korean) test. Total 25 sessions of a group art therapy were given to them from May to July of 2005, with 2-3 sessions a week and each lasting 60 minutes. Research tools employed are MMSE-K and SGDS (Short Geriatric Depression Scale), on which a pre-test and a post-test are based. Paired t-test is used for data analysis. In addition, both changes in the study subjects' attitude and behavior are also analyzed during each session of the program.
The results obtained are as follows.
First, it is shown that group art therapy is effective to improve cognitive functions of the
elderly with dementia. According to t-test on the pre- and post-tests based on MMSE-K,
there has been a significant difference exhibited by the total score(t=-8.87, p<.001) and by
the sub-scores of Orientation(t=-4.83, p<.01) and Recall Memory(t=-6.97, p<.001). That is,
the elderly dementia patients' cognitive functions on orientation and recall memory have
been improved by the group art therapy program.
Second, group art therapy is effective to reduce the depression level of the elderly with
dementia. According to t-test on the pre- and post-tests based on SGDS measuring the
level of depression, there has been statistically a significant difference with an average
depression score (t=6.57, p<.01) in t-test, which has exhibited the pre-test score(10.0) and
the post-test score(6.28).
Third, group art therapy appears to bring out some positive influence on the dementia
elderly's behavior and attitude.
An analysis of the dementia elderly's behavior and attitude before and after the art
therapy program indicates that the program offers the dementia patients an opportunity to
interact with each other, in that they can not only provide emotional support to each other,
but also reduce their depression level by their involving in creative activities which in turn give them the feeling of being entertained and achievement. Moreover, the patients' activities with various art media and skills stimulate their brain activity so as to alleviate deterioration of their cognitive functions.
Key Words : Group Art Therapy, The Elderly with Dementia, Cognitive Functions,
Depression