| Summary: | <p> The purpose of this mixed methods study was to examine the benefits of art as a therapeutic modality for identifying stress in Gulf War to active duty veterans suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders (PTSD). This is a mixed methodology study. The case and control sampling approach was a systematic random sample with a paired treatment control design. The questions where chosen to the specificity of the Gulf War veteran. The qualitative data was scrutinized using a mixed methods design utilizing the tool known as the 17 Point Questionnaire. The quantitative data was obtained using the tool known as the PSS 14 Stress Scale. Both qualitative data and quantitative data were tested for validity and reliability using various tools including Spearman’s Rho, or (Spearman's Rank Correlation Coefficient), Cluster Analysis, Pearson’s Coefficient, Dendorgrams, paired and independent T-tests, and summary statistics to determine data. Convergent validity was evaluated by comparing positive and negative PSS-14 factors and by examining relationships with the number of actual to perceived benefits of stress reduction using Likert Scale results over thirty days between two Gulf War veteran groups identified with PTSD. Findings have shown a significant reductions in stress in the treatment group. Findings have also shown significant correlations between the studies perceived benefits for specific modalities and the use of ceramic or clay work as a preferred method of choice were also identified within the research. Due to the ability of art to reduce stress in Gulf War victims suffering from PTSD, longitudinal studies have been recommended to provide art treatment therapies with conclusive evidence based research status. With this change in status it is anticipated that art therapy will have greater accessibility within the Veterans Administration (VA) system for those seeking alternative methods of treatment.</p>
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