Actively Recruiting
Art Therapy and Emotional Well Being in Military Populations With Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms
Led by Walter Reed National Military Medical Center · Updated on 2026-01-08
40
Participants Needed
2
Research Sites
304 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
Sponsors
W
Walter Reed National Military Medical Center
Lead Sponsor
U
University of Pennsylvania
Collaborating Sponsor
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
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.
CONDITIONS
Official Title
Art Therapy and Emotional Well Being in Military Populations With Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- DEERS Eligible
- Active Duty or Veteran separated within the past 10 years
- Significant posttraumatic stress symptoms (score of >=31 on the PCL-5)
You will not qualify if you...
- 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
- Contraindications for MRI such as 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
AI-Screening
AI-Powered Screening
Complete this quick 3-step screening to check your eligibility
Trial Site Locations
Total: 2 locations
1
National Intrepid Center of Excellence
Bethesda, Maryland, United States, 20814
Actively Recruiting
2
ISC at Fort Belvoir
Fort Belvoir, Virginia, United States, 22060
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
C
Chandler Rhodes, Ph.D.
CONTACT
J
Julie Sakla, M.A.
CONTACT
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
NONE
Allocation
NA
Model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary Purpose
TREATMENT
Number of Arms
1
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