Virtual Art Therapy Assisted Re-Integration to Improve Biopsychosocial Outcomes in Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Survivors, AVATARS Trial

Summary

This clinical trial tests the feasibility, usability and acceptability of a virtual art therapy assisted re-integration (AVATARS) intervention to improve biopsychosocial outcomes, such as anxiety, depression, resilience, emotional regulation, stress, and cognition, among adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer survivors. AYA cancer survivors (especially those treated at adult cancer centers) historically experience worse psychosocial outcomes and lack age appropriate psychosocial support compared to older adult cancer survivors. Creative art therapy accesses the limbic system to provide a corrective emotional experience in response to trauma and can help patients visually express depression, anxiety, and existential fears, process traumatic events, and regain agency and control. The AVATARS intervention may be a feasible, useable and acceptable way to improve biopsychosocial outcomes among AYA cancer survivors.

Detailed Description

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES: I. Investigate the AVATARS intervention's feasibility, usability, and acceptability among a sample of AYA cancer survivors. II. Investigate the preliminary efficacy of the AVATARS intervention on biopsychosocial outcomes (i.e. anxiety, depression, resilience, emotional regulation, stress, and cognition) in AYA cancer survivors. OUTLINE: Patients complete virtual art therapy sessions, over 60 minutes, every 1-2 weeks, for 4 sessions. Patients then receive a 3D printed replica of their avatar. After completion of study treatment, patients are followed up at 1 and 2 months.

Eligibility Criteria

Interventions