The Effectiveness of Self-Narrative Art Therapy in Reducing (PTSD) Symptoms Among War-Affected Syrian Children.
Level 3 - non-randomized controlled study
Non-randomized controlled study (semi-experimental pre-test and post-test with a control group)
PubMed 40098776 · doi:10.1007/s40653-024-00683-w
What was done
A semi-experimental pre-test and post-test study with a control group evaluated the efficacy of self-narrative art therapy for reducing PTSD symptoms in 20 Syrian children (aged 6 to 12) from war-affected areas who had high trauma symptom intensity scores. Ten children received the art therapy intervention and ten served as controls.
What was found
The abstract reports no numerical values, effect sizes, or p-values. It states narratively that self-narrative art therapy significantly reduced PTSD symptoms, including re-experiencing, avoidance, numbing, and arousal, in the intervention group.
Why it matters
The findings suggest that self-narrative art therapy may offer a viable psychological approach for addressing trauma-related symptoms in young children affected by war and displacement.
Limits
The sample size is very small (n = 20 total, 10 per group). The semi-experimental design lacks true randomization, creating a high risk of confounding and selection bias. The abstract provides no quantitative data, details on the nature of the control condition, intervention duration, or long-term follow-up.
Cited by
- supports Visual art, metaphor, and symbol are used clinically to build narrative and treat trauma and PTSD.