Background/Aim. Art therapy and drawings may serve as alternative means of
expression and release from trauma among veterans diagnosed with
posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Methods. The retrospective clinical
study of drawings of war veterans was performed. A total of 89 war veterans
met the Diagnostics and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) PTSD
criteria and were consecutively admitted to the Day Hospital during 5 years.
Art group therapy as part of integrative treatment was performed once a
week. The group was open and heterogeneous. Qualitative analysis of drawings
content and group protocols were obtained. The drawings were made by free
associations. War related themes were explored and descriptive statistics
were applied. Results. The most frequent type of common themes of combat
stress presented battle and witnessing wounded and killed combatants. Less
frequent were themes of graves, destroyed cities and broken trees. The
veterans preferred black and red colors with association to death, blood,
wounds and destroyed objects. Conclusion. Drawing could provide a unique,
complex, visual illustration of war traumatic experiences and memories of
posttraumatic stress disorder veterans. Art group discussion might enhance
war veterans? verbal expression due to group support in safe setting. As
adjuvant psychotherapy, art group therapy could enrich awareness and the
ability of clinicians to treat hard posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms
related to uncovered war trauma.
Examination of racial differences in a posttraumatic stress disorder group therapy program for veterans.
