This pilot study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of an assessor-blind, randomised controlled trial of psychodynamic art therapy for the treatment of patients with schizophrenia, and to generate preliminary data on the efficacy of this intervention during acute psychotic episodes. Fifty-eight inpatients with DSM-diagnoses of schizophrenia were randomised to either 12 twice-weekly sessions of psychodynamic group art therapy plus treatment as usual or to standard treatment alone. Primary outcome criteria were positive and negative psychotic and depressive symptoms as well as global assessment of functioning. Secondary outcomes were mentalising function, estimated with the Reading the mind in the eyes test and the Levels of emotional awareness scale, self-efficacy, locus of control, quality of life and satisfaction with care. Assessments were made at baseline, at post-treatment and at 12 weeks' follow-up. At 12 weeks, 55% of patients randomised to art therapy, and 66% of patients receiving treatment as usual were examined. In the per-protocol sample, art therapy was associated with a significantly greater mean reduction of positive symptoms and improved psychosocial functioning at post-treatment and follow-up, and with a greater mean reduction of negative symptoms at follow-up compared to standard treatment. The significant reduction of positive symptoms at post-treatment was maintained in an attempted intention-to-treat analysis. There were no group differences regarding depressive symptoms. Of secondary outcome parameters, patients in the art therapy group showed a significant improvement in levels of emotional awareness, and particularly in their ability to reflect about others' emotional mental states. This is one of the first randomised controlled trials on psychodynamic group art therapy for patients with acute psychotic episodes receiving hospital treatment. Results prove the feasibility of trials on art therapy during acute psychotic episodes and justify further research to substantiate preliminary positive results regarding symptom reduction and the recovery of mentalising function.Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT01622166

The Lower Saxony statutory medical service of the building trade, the building trade association in Hanover and the statutory health insurance body of Lower Saxony have co-operated in the "ArGO" model project. The objective was to focus on the main areas of work-dependent health hazards and disorders. The SF-36 questionnaire was employed to ascertain how far the results obtained concerning health-related quality of life were suitable for this purpose. Hence, the data from industrial medical check-ups were compared with the additional findings for 4,334 building trade workers. Additional unfitness for work and medication data were available from the health insurance schemes for about one half of the group. The analyses revealed clear relationships between the subjectively experienced disorders on the one hand, and the stress and illness data on the other. In addition to age and the conventional stresses, e. g. strenuous physical work, the influence of psychosocial stress was also reflected in the assessment of the quality of life. The results obtained confirm the value of the SF-36 questionnaire for preventive medicine at an industrial level. It is suitable for identifying focal points of stress and can be employed for assessing preventative measures.