The Effects of Perioperative Painting Art Therapy (LOM® Solution Centered Art Therapy) in Surgical Patients
The Effects of Perioperative Painting Art Therapy (LOM® Solution Centered Art Therapy) in Surgical Patients
The investigators want to study whether the use of painting art therapy has an influence on
 the quality of life, the complication rate and the general outcome of major abdominal
 surgery. The painting art therapy is carried out according to the protocol of (LOM® Solution
 Centered Art Therapy) by trained painting art therapists.
The interest in alternative and complementary medical treatments has increased significantly
 in recent years and several studies showed a positive effect on the healing process of
 patients undergoing surgery. Painting art therapy represents another possible form of such a
 complementary medical treatment. However, the effect in the context of major abdominal
 surgical interventions has not yet been investigated, which is why the investigators are
 conducting this study. Selected patients referred to the Department of Visceral and
 Transplantation Surgery with operable pathologies of the pancreatic and the lower
 gastrointestinal tract are subjected to perioperative painting art therapy. It is carried out
 according to the protocol of (LOM® Solution Centered Art Therapy) by trained painting art
 therapists. The investigators want to evaluate the effectiveness of perioperative painting
 art therapy by analyzing the results of several questionnaires regarding anxiety and
 depression levels as well as health related patient data to observe the short/long term
 outcome and the psychological well-being of patients undergoing major surgery in case of
 carcinoma. The aim of the study is to assess if painting art therapy, more precisely the
 LOM®-method, is effective in reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression in patients
 undergoing surgery. When it appears that the application of perioperative painting art
 therapy has a major influence on the postoperative outcome in cancer patients, some patients
 could benefit from a noninvasive, low-risk and easy additional treatment option. This study
 is a collaboration with the Institute of Complementary and Integrative medicine of the
 University Hospital Zurich.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Consecutive adult patients of both genders ≥ 18 years subjected to major (oncological)
 surgery due to pathologies of the pancreatic and lower gastrointestinal tract at our
 department.

 -  The initial diagnosis does not date back longer than 6 months prior the planned
 surgery. Neoadjuvant radio-/chemotherapy is not an exclusion criteria.

 -  Able to speak and understand German or English

 -  Signed written informed consent by the participant after extensive oral and written
 information about the research project and its aims.

 -  Thresholds of primary outcome: anxiety levels measured with STAI-form Y-1 (state) and
 Y-2 (trait). Thresholds: scores between 20 (minimum) and 80 (maximum) in each
 subscore.

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Woman who are pregnant or breast feeding.

 -  Known or suspected non-compliance regarding the execution of painting art therapy
 and/or the proper completion of the needed forms.

 -  Drug or alcohol abuse.

 -  Regular intake of antidepressant medication with the exception of medication
 prescribed for chronic insomnia.

 -  Acute suicidality.

 -  Life expectancy less than 9 months after planned surgery.

 -  Inability to follow the procedures of the study, e.g. due to language problems,
 psychological disorders, dementia, ect. of the participant

 -  Participation in another study during the present study and within 6 weeks following
 the surgery.

 -  Previous enrollment into the current study.

 -  Enrollment of the investigator, his/her family members, employees and other dependent
 persons.