E26: A Review of Art Therapy Among Military Service Members and Veterans with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder by Jeremy Ramirez

"A Review of Art Therapy Among Military Service Members and Veterans with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder" by Jeremy Ramirez reviews the use of art therapy for military service members and veterans diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The author argues for implementing art therapy programs, particularly because the current preferred treatment—Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)—is often ineffective in treating the avoidance/emotional numbing cluster of PTSD symptoms. The review details the prevalence of PTSD, noting that factors like combat trauma and military sexual trauma (MST) are significant causes, and explores various risk factors for suicide among veterans, such as divorce and homelessness. Ultimately, the article concludes that art therapy, which involves activities like drawing and photography, provides a more comprehensive care package when used in conjunction with CBT, due to its effectiveness in helping patients express nonverbalized trauma and reduce core PTSD symptoms. You can read the original article here: https://jmvh.org/article/a-review-of-art-therapy-among-military-service-members-and-veterans-with-post-traumatic-stress-disorder/