Art Therapy for Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder is a mental disorder whose primary symptoms are mood swings between "high" and "low" moods. Bipolar is also referred to as manic-depressive disorder due to the mood swings. Patients of bipolar disorder can become potentially suicidal if the mood swings are severe enough. There are several means of therapy for bipolar disorder. According to the book Manic-Depressive Illness, the manic phases of bipolar disorder can serve as a catalyst for high creativity; therefore, art therapy has gained popularity as a treatment method during these phases.

Significance

• Art therapy has gained popularity for mental disorders because it's a common belief that the artwork of a person gives insight into her subconscious thought processes. By extension, she can look into issues she may not consciously be aware of. If any repressed issues are brought to the surface, it's easier to confront them through the use of cognitive-behavioral therapy or a similar method. Art therapy is only one approach and should only be used as a supplement unless it proves more effective.

Other Functions

• Although some of the causes of bipolar disorder are due to neurological disorders, some are due to repressed memories or stressful life events. In cognitive-behavioral therapy, feelings are often too complex to be addressed easily. Art therapy allows for an uninterrupted expression of feelings, and outside of official therapy sessions, it provides a healthy means of self-expression. This is one of the major goals of therapy, because bipolar disorder can be a lifelong condition, and a lack of healthy emotional outlets is detrimental to recovery or coping.

How Art Therapy Works

• Art therapy for bipolar disorder isn't about the images produced, but rather the emotions they reflect from the patient in whatever mindset he has at the time. Art therapy can sometimes involve learning specific art techniques in order to better explore ideas and thoughts, but most of the time the technical aspects of work are secondary to the emotional aspects. According to The Handbook of Art Therapy by Cathy Malchiodi, a widely used exercise for patients is to come up with a story to go with their artwork.

Art Therapy Tests

• In order to determine bipolar art therapy needs, a therapist can administer several assessments, such as the Diagnostic Drawing Series. In this test, patients draw three separate color pastel images: a house, a tree and a person. Use of color, blending and placement of the different images on the page are three of the factors used to provide an initial interpretation of the patient's subconscious emotional state. The therapist can also ask general questions about the drawing to further elaborate on the meaning behind it.

History

• Art therapy first emerged in the 1940s, when psychologist and mental health workers first saw the healing effects of art. They understood that children, for instance, had a much easier time expressing trauma through artwork than through talking. Art was thought to be intrinsically linked to emotions. The American Art Therapy Association was founded in 1969 in order to bring a profession standard to the industry. Since that time, art therapy for bipolar and other mental disorders has reached common awareness.