Assessment of the effectiveness of art drawing for children with ASD and prediction of risk factors

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a recognized public health issue with unknown origins. This study explored the use of art therapy to address anxiety and behavioral issues in ASD, focusing on individualized treatment and multi-method assessment. A total of 131 children with ASD, aged 3 to 8, were divided into a control and a painting group. Both received a drawing book for home use. The painting group underwent 3 types of drawing therapy, and their effectiveness was analyzed using logistic regression, with anxiety levels as the dependent variable. The painting group showed reduced anxiety during preparation and pre-anesthetic visits compared to the control group. The control group had a higher rate of poor treatment adherence. House-tree-person drawing therapy was linked to reduced anxiety, while mandala and group drawing therapies showed no significant (P > .05) correlation with anxiety levels. Group therapy effectiveness increased (P < .05) with participant numbers. Art drawing can significantly reduce anxiety in children with ASD and improve treatment adherence. House-tree-person drawing is useful for anxiety screening, while mandala and group therapies offer personalized treatment approaches.