Arthedata—An online database of scientific references on art therapy

IntroductionThe scientific situation of art therapy is currently characterized by the fact that existing knowledge and research is only marginally collected and systematically appraised, and thus is troublesome and patchy to research. The aim of the arthedata project is to generate a comprehensive international web-based information and knowledge database for research on art therapy.Material and MethodsBased on the semantic web standard XML (eXtended Markup Language) an online database was created, which can be accessed at www.arthedata.de.ResultsArthedata currently consists of approximately 8000 bibliographical datasets of art therapeutical literature. Based on the descriptions of these datasets, we were able to develop keyword landscapes which sequentially guide the user through the mass of resulting datasets from random hits of potentially imprecise and incomplete search terms to a controlled area of established vocabulary with a follow-up search.DiscussionThere is an urgent need in art therapy to scientifically prove its therapeutic effectiveness, which for the time being is mostly documented in experience-based material. By using innovative technological concepts, arthedata.de assists in establishing an evidence base for art therapy.