The Study of Art Therapy using Mandala for Chronic Pain of Endometriosis

Abstract

The endometriosis is the extra-uterine existence of endometrial tissue. Usually it is in peritoneal cavity, so it bleeds in peritoneal cavity and adhered with adjacent organs. Therefore, it produces the pelvic pain and it need the medical or surgical treatment. However, the pain is not controlled completely after these treatments. Therefore, other supportive treatment is needed. Art therapy can be used for this purpose, because recently many studies were reported that the pain of endometriosis is related to stress or psychological problem. In the eleven patients who have remained pain after medical or surgical treatment for endometriosis, they were treated by art therapy as mandala therapy. After this therapy, more than 2 VAS (Visual Analog Scale) is significantly decreased in 7 of 11 patients (P<0.05) although VAS is not decreased in 4 of 11 patients. Therefore, I concluded mandala art therapy is helpful for the remained pain after medical or surgical treatment for endometriosis. However, further study is needed by the study of more big sample and long duration.