Abstract Background Depression is a common mental disorder that impairs emotional regulation, cognitive processing, and daily functioning. Persistent symptoms often reduce treatment adherence and slow the rehabilitation process. In recent years, digital media art tools have been increasingly used in psychological interventions as they integrate visual stimulation, interactive experiences, and emotional expression. These tools offer advantages such as low psychological threat, high engagement, and immediate feedback. However, most existing studies rely on descriptive analyses or small-sample observations, and there is a lack of systematic empirical evidence regarding the quantitative relationship between digital media art engagement and improvement in depressive symptoms. Based on this, the study utilized media art tools to assist in the treatment of patients with depression, evaluated the application effect of this intervention in patients with depression, and aimed to focus on examining its impact on emotional symptoms, emotional regulation ability, and treatment participation. Methods A total of 152 patients diagnosed with depression according to the International Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision were recruited and randomly assigned to a digital media art intervention group (n = 76) or a standard treatment group (n = 76). Both groups received routine pharmacological treatment and psychoeducation. The intervention group additionally completed an eight-week digital media art program consisting of two 60-minute sessions per week. Activities included digital drawing practice, interactive visual stimulation tasks, emotional imagery presentation, and guided emotional expression. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, and emotion-regulation ability was measured with the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale. Attention performance and treatment engagement scores were collected as supplementary indicators. Data were analyzed using independent t-tests, analysis of variance, and correlation analysis with a significance level of p.05. Results Hamilton Depression Rating Scale scores were significantly lower in the digital media art intervention group compared with the standard treatment group (13.42 ± 4.15 vs. 18.63 ± 4.47, p.001). The intervention group also demonstrated greater improvement in Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale scores (a reduction of 11.28 ± 4.02 vs. 4.36 ± 2.51, p.001). Analysis of variance showed a significant main effect of intervention type on depressive symptoms (F = 19.74, p.001), with no interaction effects for sex or illness duration (p.05). Attention performance improved to a greater extent in the intervention group (15.3% improvement, p=.012). Correlation analysis revealed that longer digital media art engagement was significantly associated with greater reduction in depressive symptoms (r = -0.43, p.01) and stronger enhancement in emotion-regulation ability (r = 0.39, p.01). Discussion The findings indicate that digital media art tools effectively alleviate depressive symptoms and enhance emotion-regulation ability and attentional functioning. By providing a visual channel for emotional expression, increasing interactive involvement, and strengthening treatment engagement, digital media art activities contribute positively and consistently to therapeutic progress in patients with depression. This study offers empirical support for integrating digital media art interventions into depression treatment and highlights their potential value in expanding digital approaches to psychological care and rehabilitation. Future research may incorporate longitudinal tracking and multimodal physiological assessments to further explore long-term outcomes, underlying mechanisms, and the broader applicability of these interventions. Funding No. KCSZ202414; No. 24SJ0410.
Pengyu Chen (Sun,) studied this question.