Shabbeer Imtiaz Ahamed, Angel Sara Thangamuni.
Volume 2 Special Issue 1 (Feb) 2025, Article 12 (pp.30-31)
Key Points
Question:
How effective is Mandala art therapy in reducing anxiety and distress among cancer patients?
Findings:
Mandala art therapy lowers cortisol levels, boosts dopamine, and promotes relaxation. patients report reduced anxiety, improved mood, and increased resilience. Statistically significant improvements were observed in self-reported anxiety and despair levels (p>0.05)
Meaning:
Mandala art therapy offers a promising supplemental psychological intervention for cancer patients, improving mental health and emotional stability during treatment. Further research on its long-term psychological and physiological effects is essential to integrate it into holistic cancer therapy.
Abstract
Importance:
Cancer patients commonly experience increased feelings of hopelessness and anxiety, which affects their quality of life and treatment outcomes. Emerging research demonstrates the therapeutic efficacy of art-based interventions, particularly Mandala art therapy, in treating these psychological burdens. With their repetitive patterns and symmetrical forms, the Mandalas provide a peaceful, controlled pastime to help patients relax and focus. Various studies suggest that mandala painting induces a “flow” state, diverting people’s attention from distressing symptoms and reducing the cognitive load associated with anxiety and depression.
Objective:
We aim to find the efficacy of Mandala art therapy in treating cancer patients struggling with anxiety and distress. By assessing the psychological effectiveness of Mandalas, we can discover its future potential in cancer therapy regimens.
Evidence Review:
A systemically curated search was conducted on PubMed for articles published from inception until 2024, excluding pilot studies, abstracts and articles not in English. The search focused on keywords related to Mandala art and its psychological aspect to support cancer patients dealing with distressing symptoms. This review emphasizes the efficacy of Mandala Art in the psychological improvement of cancer patients struggling with hopelessness and the blues of oncological treatments.
Findings:
We identified 34 papers, out of which 10 were filtered in accordance with our inclusion criteria. Mandala art therapy has been demonstrated to stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system, which is related to relaxation and stress reduction. Regular mandala drawing sessions are proven to lower cortisol levels and boost dopamine production, hence improving their mood and overall well-being. It has resulted in statistically significant changes (p>0.05) in participants’ self-reported levels of anxiety and despair. In addition, patients report feeling more in control, resilient, and accepting of their health state.
Conclusions and Relevance:
These findings highlight mandala art therapy’s potential as a supplemental psychological intervention for cancer patients, providing a road to emotional stability and greater mental health during treatment, thereby positively impacting the overall outcome of cancer therapy. Future research should focus on its physiological and long-term psychological effects to make mandala painting a mainstay in holistic cancer therapy.
