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

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

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.

Study Overview

• Status: Unknown
• Conditions: Brain Injuries
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Expressive Arts--Theatre Skills Training Program

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 8

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 13 years to 16 years (Child)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Youth recovering from acquired brain injury

Description

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 Plan

How is the study designed?

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Toronto
• Collaborators: Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Michelle Keightley, University of Toronto

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: July 1, 2007
• Primary Completion (Anticipated): July 1, 2009
• Study Completion (Anticipated): July 1, 2009

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 12, 2007
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 12, 2007
• First Posted (Estimate): February 13, 2007

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): February 27, 2009
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 26, 2009
• Last Verified: February 1, 2009

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Brain Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Craniocerebral Trauma; Trauma, Nervous System; Brain Injuries; Wounds and Injuries
• Other Study ID Numbers: 001 (Buy Pharma Ecza Deposu San. Tic. Ltd.)