Study	Reason for exclusion
Chapman 2001	The Chapman study (Chapman 2001) was the initial study and the Schreier 2005 was the follow up study. This study looked at 57 children (average age 10.6 years) who had experienced a physical trauma and were diagnosed using the Children's Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Index (PTSD‐1). Twenty‐seven children received a single session of the Chapman Art Therapy Treatment intervention and 30 received standard hospital care. This study was excluded because it utilised art therapy.
Lyshak‐Stelzer 2007	This study was a pilot study using play therapy thus was excluded from the review. This study looked at adolescents aged 13 to 18 years who had experienced a traumatic event, were diagnosed with PTSD using the UCLA PTSD reaction Index, and who were admitted into an inpatient facility and received 16 one hour group sessions of trauma focused art therapy. The control group received 16 one hour group sessions of general arts and crafts.
Schreier 2005	See Chapman study above.
Shelby 1994	This study was a pre‐test/post‐test of a art therapy. The study was excluded because participants were not diagnosed with PTSD and there was no control group.
Volker 1997	Random assignment to treatment and control group. Interventions were cognitive behavioral therapy compared to art therapy. This study was excluded because participants were not diagnosed with PTSD.
Walker 1983	Use of rap groups compared to those in formal group therapy. Study was excluded because participants were not randomly assigned to groups and there was no control group.