Clinical trial NCT03147924: Examining the Effects of an Improvisation Group
Official title: Examining the Effects of an Improvisation Group on Social Anxiety Among Help-seeking Youth
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: NA
Conditions: Anxiety
Depression
Self Concept Alteration
Social Support
Lead sponsor: St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2017-05-10
Enrollment: 5
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 17
Maximum age (years): 25
Standard ages: CHILD
ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Allocation: NA
Intervention model: SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose: OTHER

Brief summary: This study is taking place to examine the preliminary effects of improvisational therapy (improv group) on social anxiety for youth at the Youth Wellness Centre (YWC). The improv group will run for 12-weeks as a drop-in group. A typical session will begin with stretching, simple breathing and an activity to promote group cohesion. Following this, improvisation games and activities will be introduced with the goal of promoting the following skills: assertiveness, acceptance, problem solving, co-operate skills, non-verbal communication, mindfulness, and memory. Youth who consent to the study will be asked to complete a set of brief questionnaires the first time they attend one of the sessions. Youth who have attended at least 3 sessions will be asked again to complete questionnaires following the completion of week 12 session. Youth will also rate their anxiety and distress on a simple rating scale at the beginning and end of each session. Additionally, all participants (who have attended three or more sessions) will be invited to complete a 30 to 45 minute qualitative interview following the 12 week session. Participants are predicted to show a decrease in social anxiety, generalized anxiety and depression symptoms, and an increase in self-esteem, and perceived social support.


Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* help-seeking youth
* ages 17-25

Exclusion Criteria:

* will NOT be excluded on the basis of mental health or addiction concerns

Primary outcomes:
measure: Change in Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 (GAD-7)
timeFrame: Pre-group and 12-weeks later (post group)
measure: Change in Social Phobia Inventory (SPIN)
timeFrame: Pre-group and 12-weeks later (post group)
measure: Change in Subjective Units of Distress Scale (SUDS)
timeFrame: Pre and post every improv session for a duration of 12-weeks
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Change in Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9)
timeFrame: Pre-group and 12-weeks later (post group)
measure: Change in Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K-10)
timeFrame: Pre-group and 12-weeks later (post group)
measure: Change in Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES)
timeFrame: Pre-group and 12-weeks later (post group)
measure: Change in Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS)
timeFrame: Pre-group and 12-weeks later (post group)
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Hamilton
country: Canada
facility: Youth Wellness Centre
state: Ontario
Study officials:
affiliation: St. Joseph's Research Institute
name: Juliana Tobon, PhD.,C.Psych
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
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