RECRUITING

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

Description

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.

Conditions

Malignant Solid Neoplasm
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Related Conditions:

Malignant Solid Neoplasm

Study Overview

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Study Details

Study overview

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.

AVATARS: Adolescent and Young Adult Virtual Art Therapy Assisted Re-Integration During Cancer Survivorship

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

Condition
Malignant Solid Neoplasm
Intervention / Treatment

-

Contacts and Locations

Scottsdale

Mayo Clinic in Arizona, Scottsdale, Arizona, United States, 85259

Rochester

Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Rochester, Minnesota, United States, 55905

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

For general information about clinical research, read Learn About Studies.

Eligibility Criteria

  • * Aged 18-25 years of age at the time of enrollment and able to provide informed consent
  • * Mild or greater depression \[Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-A) score \> 5\]
  • * Diagnosed with a solid tumor malignancy within past three months (acute survivorship) or completed cancer treatment for a solid tumor malignancy within the past five years (extended survivorship)
  • * Have access to an electronic device which supports Zoom videoconferencing (e.g., personal device or public library access)
  • * Able to read and write in English
  • * Participation in art therapy within the past 12 months
  • * Visual or cognitive impairment which may impede completing the art project or the data collection measures
  • * Endorsed suicidality (via PHQ-A or otherwise)

Ages Eligible for Study

18 Years to 25 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Collaborators and Investigators

Mayo Clinic,

C. Robert Bennett, PhD, RN, PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR, Mayo Clinic

Study Record Dates

2026-07-15