A year later: The pain protocol study findings and memory reconsolidation factors

• Published in: The Arts in psychotherapy Vol. 80; p. 101949
• Main Authors: Hass-Cohen, Noah, Bokoch, Rebecca, Julia, McAnuff
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.09.2022
• Subjects: Chronic pain; Medical art therapy; Memory reconsolidation; Pain medication; Resiliency; Pain medication; Medical art therapy; Resiliency; Memory reconsolidation; Chronic pain
• ISSN: 0197-4556; 1873-5878
• DOI: 10.1016/j.aip.2022.101949

This article reports on a qualitative one-year follow-up for participants from an art therapy pain protocol study (Hass-Cohen et al., 2021). The purpose of the current study was to describe participants’ long-term outcomes related to their pain experiences and quality of life, and to identify potential therapeutic memory reconsolidation (MR) change factors. Four semi-structured interviews and response drawings were conducted with participants from the pain protocol study. For the current follow-up study, an inductive analysis of the interview transcripts and response drawings were reported as unique case outcomes and common themes. Positive outcomes included: less physiological pain, psychological and skill-based changes in pain, and more access to coping resources. Art therapy-based MR change factors were also identified, which included creative processes and protocol sequencing. •One-year follow-up qualitative study on an art therapy drawing pain protocol.•Outcomes included reductions in pain and increased access to coping resources.•Creative processes and sequencing of drawing prompts were reported as helpful.•Memory reconsolidation factors were creativity and visuospatial characteristics.•Memory reconsolidation was associated with secondary positive appraisal of coping.