Effects of Short-Term Clinical Art Therapy in Firefighters with Post-Traumatic Stress Risk

Trauma first refers to a physical injury or shock caused by violence or aggressive behavior, and second; to an experience that causes psychological damage or pain [1]. Professional rescue workers (e.g., police and firefighters) commonly serve as responders to disasters or emergencies, and they are routinely exposed to traumatic events during the course of their duties [2]. Firefighters are not only responsible for preventing and fighting fires but are also charged with various other important tasks, such as rescuing victims and providing emergency medical aid. Often, firefighters are the first to arrive at the scene of violent or tragic events; therefore, they frequently have to handle victims’ gruesome injuries or witness victims’ death or even the deaths of their colleagues. For this reason, firefighters suffer from injuries or threats, and experience trauma either directly or indirectly [3,4].