Poetry therapy is a promising but heterogeneous and under-evidenced form of creative arts therapy. Theories of change have been proffered but are model-specific and poorly evidenced in the empirical literature. The aim of this paper, then, was to provide a united understanding of how poetry therapy operates to guide future research and practice. To do this, empirical literature exploring mechanisms of poetry therapy across theoretical traditions was systematically retrieved, reviewed, and synthesised. A systematic search of six databases yielded 554 papers, of which 14 met the inclusion criteria, spanning individual and group approaches. Mechanisms and effects were extracted and synthesised into a governing framework and logic model, and stakeholder consultation was used to validate results. In total, 25 primary mechanisms and 54 associated effects were identified. These were synthesised into a logic model characterised by five primary tasks: Engaging, Feeling, Exploring, Connecting, and Transferring (“EFECT”). These tasks were associated with multifarious benefits, apparently impacting cognitive, emotional and behavioural domains. Future research could now seek to test this model empirically. It might then be used to guide a united, rigorous research programme, helping to bring poetry therapy into evidence-based policy and practice.

诗歌疗法是一种有前途但异质性和证据不足的创造性艺术疗法形式。已经提出了变化理论，但它们是特定于模型的，并且在实证文献中证据不足。因此，本文的目的是对诗歌治疗如何运作以指导未来的研究和实践提供统一的理解。为此，系统地检索、审查和综合了跨理论传统探索诗歌治疗机制的实证文献。对六个数据库的系统搜索产生了 554 篇论文，其中 14 篇符合纳入标准，涵盖个人和群体方法。机制和效果被提取并综合成一个治理框架和逻辑模型，并通过利益相关者协商来验证结果。总共，确定了 25 种主要机制和 54 种相关效应。这些被综合成一个以五个主要任务为特征的逻辑模型：参与、感受、探索、连接和转移（“效应”）。这些任务与各种各样的好处有关，显然会影响认知、情感和行为领域。未来的研究现在可以寻求经验性地测试这个模型。然后它可能会被用来指导一个统一的、严格的研究计划，帮助将诗歌治疗带入基于证据的政策和实践。未来的研究现在可以寻求经验性地测试这个模型。然后它可能会被用来指导一个统一的、严格的研究计划，帮助将诗歌治疗带入基于证据的政策和实践。未来的研究现在可以寻求经验性地测试这个模型。然后它可能会被用来指导一个统一的、严格的研究计划，帮助将诗歌治疗带入基于证据的政策和实践。