'Master My Demons': art therapy montage paintings by active-duty military service members with traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress.
Level 4 - case-series / case-control
Qualitative thematic analysis of artwork and clinical records from an uncontrolled treatment cohort
PubMed 30077986 · doi:10.1136/medhum-2018-011493
What was done
Researchers conducted a qualitative thematic analysis of montage paintings and corresponding clinical records from 240 active-duty US military service members. Participants were undergoing group art therapy for traumatic brain injury and comorbid psychological health issues, including post-traumatic stress, at the National Intrepid Center of Excellence at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.
What was found
The abstract reports no quantitative metrics or numerical effect sizes. Thematic analysis indicated that montage painting enabled service members to express postcombat symptoms, aided in externalization and progressive exposure, assisted in trauma narrative construction, and fostered improvements in interpersonal relatedness, hopefulness, and gratification.
Why it matters
It provides qualitative evidence on how expressive mixed-media art therapy can help military personnel with complex neurotrauma and psychological conditions articulate combat experiences and regulate emotions.
Limits
The abstract reports no quantitative outcome measurements or statistical analyses. The study lacked a control or comparison group, precluding causal conclusions about the specific therapeutic efficacy of montage painting. Data were collected from a single specialized military medical center, which may limit generalizability to other populations.
Cited by
- supports Visual art, metaphor, and symbol are used clinically to build narrative and treat trauma and PTSD.