FEASIBILITY OF VISUAL ART THERAPY (VAT) ON REHABILITATION OF POST STROKE PATIENTS.

Background: Unilateral Spatial Neglect (USN) is one of the most pejorative pro - gnostic factor of functional outcome after stroke. Modern Visual Art Therapy (VAT) is an innovative approach introducing art into a care process. The purpose of our study was to assess the feasibility and benefits of VAT by a trained art-therapist in addition to standard reha - bilitation in cognitive functions and quality of life in post stroke patients. Material/Methods: We selected 67 consecutive patients and we finally included 23 patients (13 women, 10 men), mean age of70.43 (±12.15) into three groups: 7 in AAT group, 8 in CAT group and SR group respectively. Patients were included into three groups: 7 patients received Active Art Therapy (AAT) sessions; 8 Contemplative Art Therapy (CAT) sessions; 8 Standard Rehabilitation (SR) alone. Results: We notice a trend to improve USN and Mini-Mental Status-Exami - nation (MMSE) in all groups of patients and this persisted at long-term follow-up (V3). This improvement of cognitive performances was more marked in the VAT groups. All patients showed also a global improvement of their quality of life (QoL) at the long-term followup, particularly in the CAT group. Depression score remained high in SR group comparing to VAT group. Conclusions: Modern visual art-therapy (VAT) delivered by a trained art-therapist seems to be a positive and feasible additional method of reha - bilitation of neglect in sub-acute post-stroke patients. We re commend VAT also to improve depression and quality of life during rehabilitation period. This is the first study to evaluate the impact of VAT delivered by a trained art-therapist in rehabilitation of neglect post-stroke patients. Our findings should be confirmed by others studies with larger sample patients including brain imaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]