Patients with preterm labor not only suffer from anxiety and uncertain
ty regarding the healthy development of their childs but, especially a
s inpatients, in part severely from loss of autonomy and feelings of i
nsufficiency. By the creative therapeutic means of art therapy it is a
imed at influencing the disturbed emotinal state and strengthening sel
f-esteem. During the sessions patients experience challenge success an
d relaxation with endurance some time after the sessions. Paintings pr
oduced by hospitalized patients in art therapeutic sessions are presen
ted. Further psychophysiological investigations are in process for con
trolling the effects on preterm labor. Paintings of inpatients are dis
cussed.