ArticleChildren (Basel, Switzerland)2025
The Impact of Expressive Arts Therapy on Alexithymia Levels in Adolescent Inpatients with Severe Anorexia Nervosa.
Article in Children (Basel, Switzerland), 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
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Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed.
- Designing Coloring-Based Digital Art Therapy to Treat Alexithymia in Chinese College Students: Qualitative Study.JMIR human factors · 2026Article
- Differential Effects of Art Therapy and Dance/Movement Therapy on Emotional and Somatic Regulation in Early Psychopathology: First-Episode Psychosis and Eating Disorders.Brain sciences · 2026Article
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12 authors.
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Abstract
backgroundAnorexia nervosa (AN) is a complex psychiatric disorder that requires a multidisciplinary approach. The World Health Organization recognizes the therapeutic value of expressive arts, including drama, in enhancing emotional, cognitive, and relational domains in severe mental illnesses such as AN. Expressive arts interventions may improve emotional intelligence, empathy, and self-awareness while reducing anxiety and alexithymia. This study evaluated the impact of an adjunctive expressive arts program on alexithymia in pediatric inpatients with AN.
methodsWe enrolled patients aged 11-18 years hospitalized for AN, according to the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revision, at the Pediatric Unit of Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome. The study period ran from December 2024 to April 2025. Participants attended drama therapy sessions and expressive arts workshops in a dedicated recreational space integrated into a multidisciplinary treatment plan. Alexithymia was assessed at admission and discharge using the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), with scores ≥ 61 indicating alexithymia. At the end of the program, participants completed a semi-structured satisfaction questionnaire to evaluate subjective experiences and mood.
resultsThirty patients met inclusion criteria. The TAS-20 scores were statistically different between pre-/post-theater activity (
conclusionsExpressive arts, particularly drama-based interventions, may represent an effective adjunctive therapy for adolescents with AN, supporting emotional awareness, self-regulation, and social connectedness. Arts-based interventions are associated with nonverbal avenues for emotional processing and may promote neuroplasticity, representing valuable complementary strategies for AN treatment.
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