The Effect of Creative Visual Art Therapy on Blood Pressure and Heart Rate: A Literature Review (L’effet de la thérapie créative par les arts visuels sur la tension artérielle et la fréquence cardiaque : une revue de la littérature)

Abstract

The effects of creative art therapy (CAT) on blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) have been scarcely examined. The objective of this study was to summarize the current literature examining the effects of CAT on BP and HR. A systematic review was completed using the databases Pubmed, Medline, and Embase. Seven studies met the inclusion criteria of the database search. One paper found an association with reduced BP, three found an association with reduced HR, four found an association with increased heart rate variability (HRV), and one found a decrease in respiratory sinus arrhythmia that is associated with an increase in HR. Additionally, two more papers that involved looking at art rather than making art are discussed, accounting for those who have reduced ability to engage in art making. The specific art modality used was also shown to affect efficacy. The effect of CAT on cardiovascular parameters remains conflicting. Most papers examined in this review present promising findings of increased heart rate variability, and reduced BP and HR. Nevertheless, other papers found conflicting effects on cardiovascular parameters. As such, further studies should be conducted to resolve the inconsistent findings in this field.

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