A thematic synthesis of therapeutic actions in arts therapies and their perceived effects in the treatment of people with a diagnosis of Cluster B personality disorder

The objective of this study was to thematically synthesize literature about specific in-session therapeutic actions occurring for people with Cluster B personality disorder attending arts therapies. Studies reporting on arts therapies treatment for people with a diagnosis of personality disorder were searched in Embase, Medline, PubMed and grey sources until June 2017. Search yielded 167 records. 32 studies were included in the analysis. Data synthesis was conducted by using extracts from the literature search which were coded and then subject to a thematic analysis and synthesis. The codes were then discussed and agreed by the research team. The thematic analysis and synthesis resulted in seven overarching themes relating to: (1) Processing interpersonal experiences (2) Processing emotions (3) Developing agency (4) Symbolising (5) Structuring experience (6) Cognitive reappraisal, and (7) Developing a shared experience. This thematic synthesis provides some evidence that there are thematic similarities in terms of primary areas of therapeutic action and the relationship between the therapeutic action and the perceived effects of engaging in arts therapies. Our findings suggest that literature about in-session therapeutic actions focus mostly on processing interpersonal experiences and the largest frequency of coded excerpts concerning the perceived effect of engaging in arts therapies was in the area of processing emotions.