Expressive Arts as a Social and Community Integration Tool for Youth Recovering From Brain Injury

Brain Injuries Clinical Trial

Official title:

Expressive Arts as a Social and Community Integration Tool for Adolescents With Acquired Brain Injury: "I Want to Thrive, Not Just Survive!"

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Active, not recruiting

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT00434603
• Other study ID #: 001
• Status: Active, not recruiting
• Phase: Phase 1/Phase 2
• First received: February 12, 2007
• Last updated: February 26, 2009
• Start date: July 2007
• Est. completion date: July 2009

Study information

• Verified date: February 2009
• Source: University of Toronto
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Health authority: Canada: Ethics Review Committee
• Study type: Observational

Clinical Trial Summary

This study utilizes a novel technique—expressive arts therapy—to facilitate social integration for youth recovering from acquired brain injury (ABI). Expressive arts therapy is defined as the use of the arts and artistic media to explore psychological aspects of life. An expressive art (also referred to as 'creative arts' or even just 'arts') encompasses drama, music, art (visual arts such as painting, sculpture etc) and dance/movement. It has great potential to improve community integration for youth recovering from ABI, through facilitating skills required for successful social communication and social cognition. It is hypothesized to improve social and emotional functioning compared to a less structured creative arts program. It is expected that a combination of directed group activities and self-reflection within a creative learning context will improve emotional awareness and social and community integration to a greater degree than a non-expressive creative arts therapy group, in youth who have suffered an ABIAs community integration enables meaningful and productive occupational engagement, enabling opportunities for occupational engagement through increased community integration would greatly enhance the quality of life of adolescents with ABI.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Active, not recruiting
• Enrollment: 8
• Est. completion date: July 2009
• Est. primary completion date: July 2009
• Accepts healthy volunteers: No
• Gender: Both
• Age group: 13 Years to 16 Years

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• At least 6 months post injury

• Difficulties in social and emotional functioning

• Entering Grades 10 and 11 in 2007

• English fluency

Exclusion Criteria:

• Extreme behaviour, mood and cognitive disturbance

Study Design

Observational Model: Case Control, Time Perspective: Prospective

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Brain Injuries

Intervention

Behavioral:
• Expressive Arts--Theatre Skills Training Program
The experimental intervention was an intensive theatre skills training program. The group of adolescent participants recovering from ABI met daily for four hours over a period of 4 weeks. During this 4 hour period, regular breaks were scheduled to provide the participants with a mental and physical break from therapy. Theatre training included voice work, breathing, movement, physical warm-up, character development, script analysis, writing skills, three-dimensional awareness, group dynamics, story development, mask work and clowning among others.

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
n/a

Sponsors (2)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
University of Toronto	Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital