A Study of the Thematic Content and Formal Elements of a Free Choice Drawing Created by Older Adults Diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease: A Mixed Methods Investigation

This study used a mixed methods approach to examine the themes in the Free Choice Drawings (FCD) created by13 older adults with a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The Mini-Cog was used as the instrument to identify cognitive impairment in the participants. All participants were scored as positive for cognitive impairment according to the scoring instructions for the Mini-Cog. The FCD followed the Mini-Cog. Of the 13 participants, eight attempted the FCD and five left their paper blank. The FCD was rated using a modified version of the Formal Elements Art Therapy Scale (FEATS). Scales included, Prominence of Color, Color Fit, Implied Energy, Space, Developmental Level, Line Quality, and Perseveration. The FCD was also analyzed for content utilizing a research team. Themes included media choice, use of space, use of color, subject matter, and verbal associations. Results showed a link between the themes and the symptomology of AD. The FCD and FEATS combined with the Clinical Dementia Rating scale (CDR) may provide avenues for future research into the deterioration of cognitive functions and how they compare to a participant’s artwork in each stage of AD. The Face Stimulus Assessment (FSA) may provide a more grounded approach to art making for this population and could be used in conjunction with the FCD and FEATS.