Quantitatively Improved Treatment Outcomes for Combat-Associated PTSD With Adjunctive Art Therapy: Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

This article describes a randomized, controlled trial (N = 38) that compared art therapy in conjunction with cognitive processing therapy (CPT) to CPT alone for veterans with combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder. Participants were randomized to either the experimental condition of 8 sessions of CPT and 8 sessions of individual art therapy or to the control condition of 8 sessions of CPT and 8 individual sessions of supportive psychotherapy. Outcome measures included the Beck Depression Inventory–II (BDI–II), PTSD Checklist–Military (PCL–M), and self-ratings of perceived treatment benefits. Experimental group participants had statistically significantly greater reduction in PCL–M and BDI–II scores compared to the control group and the perceived benefit of treatment was greater for art therapy as compared to CPT.