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International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology
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The Effectiveness of Art Therapy in Reducing Depression in Prison Populations

David Gussak

Florida State University, Tallahassee

Major obstacles block the effectiveness of therapy in prison. Many inmates have an inherent mistrust for verbal disclosure. Rigid defenses exist for basic survival. Despite these defenses, there has been support for art therapy as a valuable tool. Unfortunately, there has been little research to measure the effectiveness of art therapy in prison. Two quantitative studies were initiated in a North Florida prison to measure the effectiveness of art therapy with inmates, specifically in decreasing depressive symptoms. This article will present a pilot and follow-up study. The methods, including the Formal Elements Art Therapy Scale (FEATS) and the Beck Depression Inventory–Short Form, will be delineated. What was revealed was that although the FEATS proved more effective as a measurement tool for the pilot than for the follow-up study, ultimately, the results reflected a significant decrease in depressive symptoms in those inmates who participated in the program.

Key Words: art therapy • BDI-II • depression • Formal Elements Art Therapy Scale • prison

International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, Vol. 51, No. 4, 444-460 (2007)
DOI: 10.1177/0306624X06294137
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