Active-duty military service members’ visual representations of PTSD and TBI in masks

Authors

Melissa S. Walker, National Intrepid Center of Excellence
Girija Kaimal, Drexel University
Adel M.L. Gonzaga, Drexel University
Katherine Myers-Coffman PhD, MT-BC, Molloy CollegeFollow
Thomas J. DeGraba, National Intrepid Center of Excellence

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2017

Journal Title or Book Title

International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-being

Volume

12

Issue

1

Version

Publisher's PDF

Publisher's Statement

Open Access © 2017 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group

DOI

10.1080/17482631.2016.1267317

Abstract

Active-dutymilitary service members have a significant risk of sustaining physical and psychological trauma resulting in traumatic brain injury (TBI) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Within an interdisciplinary treatment approach at the National Intrepid Center of Excellence, servicemembers participated in mask making during art therapy sessions. This study presents an analysis of the mask-making experiences of service members (n = 370) with persistent symptoms from combatand mission-related TBI, PTSD, and other concurrent mood issues. Data sources included mask images and therapist notes collected over a five-year period. The data were coded and analyzed using grounded theory methods. Findings indicated that mask making offered visual representations of the self related to individual personhood, relationships, community, and society. Imagery themes referenced the injury, relational supports/losses, identity transitions/questions, cultural metaphors, existential reflections, and conflicted sense of self. These visual insights provided an increased understanding of the experiences of service members, facilitating their recovery.

Related Pillar(s)

Study

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License

Recommended Citation

Walker, Melissa S.; Kaimal, Girija; Gonzaga, Adel M.L.; Myers-Coffman, Katherine PhD, MT-BC; and DeGraba, Thomas J., "Active-duty military service members’ visual representations of PTSD and TBI in masks" (2017). Faculty Works: MT (2003-2021). 19.
https://digitalcommons.molloy.edu/mustherapy_fac/19