Art Therapy and Emotional Well Being in Military Populations With Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms

January 6, 2026 updated by: Walter Reed National Military Medical Center
Art therapy is used across the Military Health System for treatment of posttraumatic symptoms, but there is limited research on how art therapy is able to restore emotional expression and regulation in service members. This research hopes to learn about the effects of art therapy on emotional expression and regulation in service members as well as the neurological systems at work. If a participant chooses to be in this study, he or she will attend eleven sessions over a period of six to eight months. The first session will be an interview and self-assessment questionnaires to collect information on a variety of symptoms, experiences, and personality traits, and an MRI scan. During the MRI scan, participants will be asked to perform a task where they will be shown a series of neutral and negative images. The following eight sessions will be one-hour art therapy sessions with a certified art therapist. The tenth session will consist of the same self-assessment questionnaires and another MRI scan. The final session will consist of some of the same questionnaires from the tenth visit, as well as a qualitative interview done virtually three months after the tenth visit.

Study Overview

Status

Recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Art Therapy is used across the Military Health System (MHS) as part of interdisciplinary treatment programs with great success, but there is limited research on how this art therapy works. Therefore, the purpose of this research is to learn about the effects of art therapy on emotional expression and regulation in service members as well as the impact of art therapy on brain systems. If a participant chooses to be in this study he or she will attend eleven sessions over a period of six to eight months. The first session and tenth sessions of this research study will include interviews and self-assessment questionnaires to collect information on a variety of symptoms, experiences, and personality traits, and a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan. During the MRI scan, participants will be asked to perform a task where they will be shown a series of neutral and negative images. These sessions will be about 2.5 to 3 hours. The sessions two through nine will include a one-hour art therapy sessions with a certified art therapist. The art therapy sessions are also considered research interventions. The eleventh and final session will consist of some of the same questionnaires from the tenth visit, as well as a qualitative interview done virtually three months after the tenth visit.

There is the risk that participants may experience increased psychological or emotional distress or frustration when discussing traumatic events during either the art research intervention sessions or during the questionnaires or interviews. Participants may experience a reduction in symptoms associated with posttraumatic stress (PTS), mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), and/or other psychological heath disorders through the art therapy process. However, there is no guarantee that participants will benefit from being in this research. As an alternative to this research, participants can talk to your physician about art therapy or other therapeutic options.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

40

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Maryland
      • Bethesda, Maryland, United States, 20814
        • Recruiting
        • National Intrepid Center Of Excellence
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Chandler Rhodes, Ph.D.
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Anjan Chatterjee, Ph.D.
        • Contact:
        • Contact:
    • Virginia
      • Fort Belvoir, Virginia, United States, 22060
        • Recruiting
        • ISC at Fort Belvoir
        • Contact:
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Gioia Chilton, PhD

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 64 years (Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • DEERS Eligible
  • Active Duty or Veteran separated within the past 10 years
  • Significant posttraumatic stress symptoms (score of >/=31 on the PCL-5)

Exclusion Criteria:

  • History of moderate, severe, or penetrating brain injury
  • History of psychotic disorder, bipolar disorder, or active suicidal or homicidal ideation
  • History of multiple sclerosis, Huntington's disease, or Alzheimer's disease
  • History of stroke or myocardial infarction
  • History of brain tumor
  • History of seizures
  • Contradictions for MRI (for example, participants will be excluded for pregnancy, metal implants or suspected shrapnel, aneurysm/intracranial clips, cardiac pacemakers or implanted programmable devices or pumps)
  • Unable to provide informed consent
  • History of previous exposure to art therapy
  • Active substance use disorder

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: N/A
  • Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Art Therapy Arm
8 weeks of individual art therapy
Behavioral: Art Therapy
During the art research intervention session, the art therapist will walk you through the creation of various types of art and may spend time asking you about the artwork, how you are felling, as well as your past experiences.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
The Primary Outcome Measure is analysis of functional neuroimaging metrics
Time Frame: Baseline

The primary outcome measure is the analysis of resting state and task based functional MRI data which include but functional connectivity measures between brain regions at rest and during the task as well as functional activation patterns during the task.

MRI and a series of task based fMRI sequences.
Baseline
The Primary Outcome Measure is analysis of functional neuroimaging metrics
Time Frame: Through study completion, an average of 14 weeks

The primary outcome measure is the analysis of resting state and task based functional MRI data which include but functional connectivity measures between brain regions at rest and during the task as well as functional activation patterns during the task.

MRI and a series of task based fMRI sequences.
Through study completion, an average of 14 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20)
Time Frame: Baseline
A 20-item instrument that measures alexithymia defined as trouble identifying and describing emotions. A 20-item instrument that measures alexithymia defined as trouble identifying and describing emotions. Items are rated using a 5-point Likert scale whereby 1 = strongly disagree and 5 = strongly agree.
Baseline
Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20)
Time Frame: Through study completion, an average of 14 weeks
A 20-item instrument that measures alexithymia defined as trouble identifying and describing emotions. Items are rated using a 5-point Likert scale whereby 1 = strongly disagree and 5 = strongly agree.
Through study completion, an average of 14 weeks
PTSD Checklist for the Diagnostics and Statistics Manual Five (DSM-V) (PCL-5)
Time Frame: Baseline
A 20-item self-report measure of the 20 DSM-5 symptoms of PTSD. Respondents rate how much they were "bothered by that problem in the past month". Items are rated on a scale ranging from 0 ("not at all") to 4 ("extremely")
Baseline
PTSD Checklist for the Diagnostics and Statistics Manual Five (DSM-V) (PCL-5)
Time Frame: Through study completion, an average of 14 weeks
A 20-item self-report measure of the 20 DSM-5 symptoms of PTSD. Respondents rate how much they were "bothered by that problem in the past month". Items are rated on a scale ranging from 0 ("not at all") to 4 ("extremely")
Through study completion, an average of 14 weeks
PTSD Checklist for the Diagnostics and Statistics Manual Five (DSM-V) (PCL-5)
Time Frame: Study completion, an average of six to eight months
A 20-item self-report measure of the 20 DSM-5 symptoms of PTSD. Respondents rate how much they were "bothered by that problem in the past month". Items are rated on a scale ranging from 0 ("not at all") to 4 ("extremely")
Study completion, an average of six to eight months
Neurobehavioral Symptoms Inventory (NSI)
Time Frame: Baseline
A self-reported questionnaire that measures common post concussive symptoms. The severity of each symptom as experienced in the last two weeks is rated on a scale (0) none to (4) very severe
Baseline
Neurobehavioral Symptoms Inventory (NSI)
Time Frame: Through study completion, an average of 14 weeks
A self-reported questionnaire that measures common post concussive symptoms. The severity of each symptom as experienced in the last two weeks is rated on a scale (0) none to (4) very severe
Through study completion, an average of 14 weeks
Neurobehavioral Symptoms Inventory (NSI)
Time Frame: Study completion, an average of six to eight months
A self-reported questionnaire that measures common post concussive symptoms. The severity of each symptom as experienced in the last two weeks is rated on a scale (0) none to (4) very severe
Study completion, an average of six to eight months
General Self Efficacy Scale (GSES)
Time Frame: Baseline
A self-report questionnaire that predicts coping with and adapting to stressful life event. The extent to which the participant agrees with each statement is measured on a scale of 1 (not true at all) to 4 (exactly true).
Baseline
General Self Efficacy Scale (GSES)
Time Frame: Through study completion, an average of 14 weeks
A self-report questionnaire that predicts coping with and adapting to stressful life event. The extent to which the participant agrees with each statement is measured on a scale of 1 (not true at all) to 4 (exactly true).
Through study completion, an average of 14 weeks
General Self Efficacy Scale (GSES)
Time Frame: Study completion, an average of six to eight months
A self-report questionnaire that predicts coping with and adapting to stressful life event. The extent to which the participant agrees with each statement is measured on a scale of 1 (not true at all) to 4 (exactly true).
Study completion, an average of six to eight months
Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7)
Time Frame: Baseline
A self-rated questionnaire that screens for generalized anxiety disorder. A recommended threshold for further evaluation is a score of 10 or greater
Baseline
Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7)
Time Frame: Through study completion, an average of 14 weeks
A self-rated questionnaire that screens for generalized anxiety disorder. A recommended threshold for further evaluation is a score of 10 or greater
Through study completion, an average of 14 weeks
Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7)
Time Frame: Study completion, an average of six to eight months
A self-rated questionnaire that screens for generalized anxiety disorder. A recommended threshold for further evaluation is a score of 10 or greater
Study completion, an average of six to eight months
Self-Regulation Questionnaire (SRQ)
Time Frame: Baseline
A self-report questionnaire that measures the ability to develop, implement, and flexibly maintain planned behavior. The extent to which the participant agrees with each statement is rated on a scale of 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree).
Baseline
Self-Regulation Questionnaire (SRQ)
Time Frame: Through study completion, an average of 14 weeks
A self-report questionnaire that measures the ability to develop, implement, and flexibly maintain planned behavior. The extent to which the participant agrees with each statement is rated on a scale of 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree).
Through study completion, an average of 14 weeks
Self-Regulation Questionnaire (SRQ)
Time Frame: Study completion, an average of six to eight months
A self-report questionnaire that measures the ability to develop, implement, and flexibly maintain planned behavior. The extent to which the participant agrees with each statement is rated on a scale of 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree).
Study completion, an average of six to eight months
Perceived Stress Scale (PSS)
Time Frame: Baseline
A self-report questionnaire that measures the level of perceived stress for a participant. How often the participant experiences each event is rated on a scale of 0 (never) to 4 (very often).
Baseline
Perceived Stress Scale (PSS)
Time Frame: Through study completion, an average of 14 weeks
A self-report questionnaire that measures the level of perceived stress for a participant. How often the participant experiences each event is rated on a scale of 0 (never) to 4 (very often).
Through study completion, an average of 14 weeks
Perceived Stress Scale (PSS)
Time Frame: Study completion, an average of six to eight months
A self-report questionnaire that measures the level of perceived stress for a participant. How often the participant experiences each event is rated on a scale of 0 (never) to 4 (very often).
Study completion, an average of six to eight months
Revised Helping Alliance Questionnaire (HAQ-II)
Time Frame: Through study completion, an average of 14 weeks
A self-report questionnaire that measures the strength of the client therapist alliance. The extent to which the participant agrees with each statement is rated on a scale of 1 (strongly disagree) to 6 (strongly agree)
Through study completion, an average of 14 weeks
Moral Injury Events Scale (MIES)
Time Frame: Baseline
A self-report survey that measures potentially morally injurious events. Each phrase is reacted on a Likert scale of 1 (Strongly Agree) to 6 (strongly disagree).
Baseline
Moral Injury Events Scale (MIES)
Time Frame: Through study completion, an average of 14 weeks
A self-report survey that measures potentially morally injurious events. Each phrase is reacted on a Likert scale of 1 (Strongly Agree) to 6 (strongly disagree).
Through study completion, an average of 14 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Walter Reed National Military Medical Center

Collaborators

University of Pennsylvania
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Chandler Rhodes, PhD, WRNMMC

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

February 1, 2022

Primary Completion (Estimated)

December 1, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

December 1, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

December 15, 2021

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 7, 2022

First Posted (Actual)

June 10, 2022

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimated)

January 8, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

January 6, 2026

Last Verified

August 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 2021-13476

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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