A KFD web database system with an object-based image retrieval for family art therapy assessments

Abstract

In this paper, we apply the DataBase Management System (DBMS) to Kinetic Family Drawing (KFD), which is a widely used assessment tool in family art therapy. We developed a prototype of the KFD Web database for managing large amounts of KFD assessment data, and supporting an efficient KFD assessment process by analyzing the requirements of family art therapists. We also devised and implemented a novel object-based image retrieval algorithm by using high-level features that are recognizable by humans in the context of the KFD Web database system. Consequently, a family art therapist can more consistently and objectively assess family problems by referencing the existing assessment content that was obtained with object-based image retrieval and a systematic knowledge management system in the KFD Web database system. We explain the proposed system's functions, and illustrate using case studies of object-based image retrieval. Our proposed system can be used as a useful supplementary tool, and it will aid humans in KFD sessions. (C) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.