Emma: Art therapy illustrating personal and universal images of loss

Journal/Book: Omega Journal of Death and Dying. 1992; 25: 259-269.

Abstract: Presents the case of a 71-yr-old woman who was admitted to a psychiatric ward for what appeared to be symptoms of Alzheimer's disease (AD). On the ward, S attended art therapy groups, where she spontaneously created metaphors of loss. Her art work showed similarities to art work produced by cancer patients. After a 3-mo stay on the psychiatric ward, S was diagnosed with cancer of the liver. She was transferred to a medical unit where she died 3 wks later. S produced all her art work before she was diagnosed with cancer, and evidence is presented to suggest that S unconsciously knew she was dying and independently worked on issues of her own death through her art work.

Note: creations of metaphors of loss in art therapy; unconscious knowledge of dying prior to cancer diagnosis; 71 yr old female psychiatric patient; case report

Keyword(s): Art therapy; death and dying; unconscious personality factor; case report; aged ; neoplasms ; adulthood

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