Date of Award

Spring 5-2013

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

EVMS School of Health Professions

Program/Concentration

Art Therapy & Counseling

Committee Director

Sarah Deaver

Committee Member

Madeline Dunstan

Abstract

This study utilized a descriptive and comparative non-experimental design in order to examine differences between Human Figure Drawings (HFDs) completed by 25 adults between the age of 65-100with a known diagnosis of Dementia of the Alzheimer’s Type (DAT), and 22 adults in the same age range with no known diagnosis of DAT. Instrumentation included the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) paired with the modified Formal Elements Art Therapy Scale (FEATS) and the Human Figure Drawing (HFD). The MMSE was applied in order to screen for cognitive impairment, and the FEATS/HFD quantified drawing characteristics across five scales: Prominence of Color, Color Fit, Space, Developmental Level, and Details of Objects and Environment. Statistical analysis implemented the Wilcoxon Rank Sum Test in order to determine differences between the two groups. The outcome yielded statistically significant differences between the two groups along all five of the FEATS/HFD scales. The significance of the statistical findings offers implications for future practice and research. The FEATS/HFD maintains the potential to be used a part of a diagnostic process by producing graphic indicators congruent with the presence of DAT. Second, the Clock Drawing Test (CDT) is the only drawing-based evaluation for AD and DAT; however, due to the cultural shift towards digital methods, the analog clock may become invalid as a test variable. Lastly, Combining the FEATS/HFD with the Global Deterioration Scale (GDS) may provide an opportunity to use drawing elements to aid in tracking and locating an individual’s specific stage of decline due to the serial nature of the GDS.

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