Therapeutic use of art with active duty military members and Veterans with PTSD: A scoping review

Abstract: Introduction: Creative arts therapies and arts-based interventions are used in treatment programs and have demonstrated a positive impact on the course of certain mental disorders. Military personnel can face traumatic experiences during their service that can potentially lead to the development of psychological trauma. Although evidence-based approaches provide a solid foundation for treatment, challenges include low retention rates, and they may not adequately address the unique psychological and emotional experiences of military personnel. Therefore, it is important to investigate various treatments for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), including complementary ones, such as creative arts therapies and arts-based interventions. Methods: This scoping review examined peer-reviewed journal publications in several languages concerning various creative arts therapies and arts-based interventions used with active duty military members and Veterans. The recommended Joanna Briggs Institute approach for source selection and data extraction was followed. Results:A total of 4,090 publications were examined, with 28 selected for extraction: 14 used quantitative methodology to investigate the impact of art on PTSD symptoms, 12 used qualitative methodology, and two included both. The findings indicate differing arts-based approaches and key methodologies used for PTSD assessment, as well as the fundamental outcomes on PTSD symptoms resulting from these approaches. Discussion: Included publications used six categories of art activities: visual, performing, literary, crafts, therapeutic techniques, and cultural and educational activities. Activities were led by psychologists, art therapists, artists, songwriters, musicians, and dancers. Based on the gaps uncovered in the included studies, potential directions for future research are recommended.