Art/ekspresivne terapije i sofrologija u analizi mehanizama suočavanja u djeteta s malignim oboljenjem
Art/expressive psychotherapy and sophrology in the analysis of copping mechanisms in child with malignant disease

Summary/Abstract: Aim: The aim of this research was evaluation of the changes in coping mechanism, emotional experience and expression of the children with cancer, during complex programs of medical treatment and rehabilitation, and was conducted in a frame of the scientific project “Complementary Therapies and Life Potential Development” supported by Ministry of Science of the Republic of Croatia a Method: In the frame of a case study, observed sample included one boy, age 14, with diagnosis Osteosarcoma Maxilae t. dex. (osteosarkoma of right maxillary), hospitalized at the Department for Hematology and Oncology at the Children’s Hospital Zagreb. Initial hypothesis was that the complementary use of art/expressive therapy, drafted according to the individual needs of children during complex treatment and rehabilitation, manifested in changes in the child’s coping mechanisms in connection with the tendencies of changes in other control variables. For evaluation are used following instruments: Gibson spiral maze – test for measuring of psychomotor skills, Aqua test for Self-report measurement of stress reaction, Basic Ph model and SUO – Scale for coping for children and adolescents. The program was conducted in seven assessment points and the original data for the controlled variables were processed by the INDIFF analysis of changes. Results: Obtained through the two main components of change for the observed variables and their analysis, research results have confirmed the initial hypothesis, that the value of complementary analytical approaches and application of sophrology and art/expressive therapy in the complex treatment and rehabilitation. Conclusion: Supporting mechanisms for coping in children with malignant disease is crucial to maintain child’s psychoemotional homeostasis during treatment and rehabilitation. In this context art/expressive therapy and sophrology, such methods and procedures designed and implemented through the individual protocol, may have psychotherapeutic and supporting function.

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