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75. The therapeutic effect of ancient Chinese paintings on the emotional regulation of patients with depression

Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Background Depression is characterized by low mood, reduced interest and cognitive impairment as its core symptoms, which seriously affect patients' life and social functions. The current treatment mainly relies on medication and psychological intervention, but there are problems such as drug resistance, side effects and insufficient therapeutic effect. Art therapy is increasingly valued as a supplementary means. Ancient Chinese paintings emphasized "artistic conception" and "expression of feelings," possessing aesthetic qualities that soothe emotions and cultivate temperament. In order to provide theoretical references and practical basis for the clinical application of non-pharmaceutical therapies, this study systematically evaluated the therapeutic effect of ancient Chinese painting intervention on the emotional regulation of patients with depression. Methods A total of 160 patients with mild to moderate depression admitted to the outpatient department of a specialized mental health hospital from March 2023 to March 2024 were selected as the research subjects and divided into the experimental group (n = 80) and the control group (n = 80) by the random number table method. The control group received conventional antidepressant drug treatment and psychological counseling twice a month. The experimental group participated in the intervention of appreciation and creation of ancient Chinese paintings on the basis of conventional treatment. Led by therapists with qualifications in art therapy, they conducted group intervention twice a week, each session lasting 90 minutes, for 12 weeks. The Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD) and the Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) were used for assessment before the intervention, 6 weeks after the intervention, and 12 weeks after the intervention respectively. And record the changes in patients' treatment satisfaction and emotional state. Results At baseline, there was no significant difference in HAMD and SDS scores between the two groups of patients (p>.05). After 12 weeks of intervention, the HAMD score of the experimental group decreased to (12.8 ± 4.3) points, and the SDS score decreased to (48.5 ± 7.6) points. The HAMD score of the control group was (17.2 ± 5.1) points, and the SDS score was (54.3 ± 8.2) points. The decrease in the score of the experimental group was significantly greater than that of the control group (p<.01). In terms of symptom relief rate, the relief rate of depressive symptoms in the experimental group was 71.3%, and that in the control group was 47.5%. The difference between the groups was statistically significant (p<.001). Discussion Ancient Chinese painting intervention can effectively alleviate the depressive mood of patients with depression, enhance their psychological adaptation and emotional regulation ability, and the effect is especially significant among patients with mild to moderate depression. This intervention method combines cultural affinity and aesthetic experience, is easily accepted by patients, and is suitable for clinical promotion as an auxiliary treatment for depression. In the future, the influence of different painting themes, individual and group forms on long-term therapeutic effects can be further explored, and the scope can be extended to people of different ages and cultural backgrounds.
DOI: 10.1093/schbul/sbag003.075
Language: English
Subfield: Conservation
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7128811847
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