Date of Award

Spring 5-2014

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

EVMS School of Health Professions

Program/Concentration

Art Therapy and Counseling

Committee Member

Kerry Kruk

Committee Member

Kathleen Decker

Abstract

Five veterans were recruited for this randomized controlled trial examining the effects of art therapy in conjunction with Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) for veterans with combat PTSD. The results of this study supported our hypothesis that art therapy in combination with CPT would be more effective, and indicated that art therapy is a powerful form of treatment for this population and needs to be explored further. Other goals of this study were to gain a basic understanding of the benefits of art therapy for combat veterans with PTSD and if it should be included as a standard treatment for this population. Although there were too few participants to ascertain statistical significance according to pre-mid-and posttest PCL-M scores, the veterans in the group receiving individual art therapy had a reduction of PCL-M score that was 3.6 points greater than the reduction in score of the historical average for veterans receiving CPT at the same facility, and 12.6 points greater than the reduction in score of the control participant. Art therapy was determined to be beneficial and a preferred treatment according to posttest interviews and was rated an average of 4.7 out of 5 on a Likert scale. CPT was rated an average of 3.3 out of 5.

Art therapy increased trauma processing and provided access to blocked-off memories, provided unique information and a sense of safety, and offered an avenue for veterans to express and explore their traumas nonverbally and symbolically. This study indicated a need for flexibility within structure, individualization in treatment, adequate time for exploration, and adequate training and understanding of the power of the artwork and PTSD.

Rights

In Copyright. URI: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).

DOI

10.25777/wcn2-zj61

Download

Share

COinS