THE INFLUENCE OF CHINESE CALLIGRAPHY ON ANXIETY AND DIRECTED DEPRESSION IN PATIENTS WITH LIFE-RISING ILLNESSES IN HONG KONG.

Abstract

Terminally ill patients in Hong Kong often report feeling anxious and depressed. According to studies, breast cancer patients who practiced Chinese calligraphy (CCH) had fewer severe symptoms. In other groups, many studies have shown comparable positive outcomes. In addition, the intervention may be a helpful adjunct therapy to alleviate symptoms and improve health in general. As a therapeutic aid, it reduces anxiety, improves mood and mental clarity, and sharpens the mind. Eight minutes of an intervention using Chinese calligraphy was associated with a significant decrease in participants' reported feelings of anxiety, despair, and stress. Patients in Hong Kong who were diagnosed with breast cancer received this procedure. Physiological markers like heart rate, breathing rate, and systolic blood pressure were all shown to be lower after the calligraphy session. Preliminary findings generated from a prior study indicate that calligraphy instruction improves several bodily systems and decreases psychotic symptoms in patients suffering from schizophrenia. Previous research had many flaws, the most notable of which were the different samples used and the small sample sizes. The present large-scale randomised, controlled trial examined the relationship between calligraphy and many psychological variables in individuals with a schizophrenia diagnosis. These variables included mood, quality of life, psychotic symptoms, emotions, cognition (including attention), and psychotic symptoms. Eight minutes of an intervention using Chinese calligraphy was associated with a significant decrease in participants' reported feelings of anxiety, despair, and stress.