ABSTRACT NUMBER: ESOC2026A464 EFFECTS OF CREATIVE ART THERAPY IN STROKE REHABILITATION: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

Abstract Background and aims Stroke frequently results in persistent psychological and emotional impairments that negatively affect recovery and quality of life. Creative art therapy has been increasingly explored as a complementary rehabilitation approach, but its effectiveness in stroke populations remains incompletely understood. We aimed to systematically review the evidence on the effects of creative art therapy interventions in stroke rehabilitation. Methods A systematic search of multiple electronic databases was conducted up to May 2025 to identify studies investigating creative art therapy interventions in stroke populations. Eligible study designs included randomised controlled trials, non-randomised controlled studies, and observational studies. Art therapy was defined as an organised programme delivered by professional therapists in which participants were actively involved in the creative process of making art. Interventions confined to virtual art, music, or dance were excluded. Results Fifteen studies involving a total of 670 stroke patients met the inclusion criteria, including six randomised controlled trials, one cohort study, and eight pre–post single-arm studies. Four studies were conducted in the UK, three in China, and the remaining studies were each conducted in different countries. Overall methodological quality was moderate. Across studies, art therapy interventions were associated with significant improvements in anxiety, depression, and quality of life. All included studies reported positive outcomes following art therapy participation. Conclusions Creative art therapy is associated with improvements in psychological outcomes and quality of life after stroke. Despite the moderate quality, these findings support its role as a complementary rehabilitation approach and highlight the need for larger randomized trials. Conflict of interest All authors have nothing to disclose