Drawing soldiers out of post-traumatic stress disorder

Abstract

Art therapies are a broad suite of treatments including drawing, painting and music that can facilitate non-verbal communication through artistic expression. They have been used as adjunctive therapies for a range of mental health conditions. Significant numbers of returning military personnel experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and discontinuation of care is a concern. Using drawing-based art therapy as an adjuvant to classical therapies may provide a benefit for such military patients.