Examining the Effects of an Improvisation Group

NCT03147924 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 2927
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 5
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

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.

Conditions

Anxiety; Depression; Self Concept Alteration; Social Support

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

• Change in Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 (GAD-7)

  A seven-item self-report anxiety questionnaire designed to monitor and assess the severity of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) symptoms.

  Pre-group and 12-weeks later (post group)

• Change in Social Phobia Inventory (SPIN)

  A seventeen-item questionnaire used to measure the severity of social anxiety.

  Pre-group and 12-weeks later (post group)

• Change in Subjective Units of Distress Scale (SUDS)

  A thermometer scale used to track anxiety before and after each session

  Pre and post every improv session for a duration of 12-weeks

Secondary Outcomes (4)

• Change in Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9)

  Pre-group and 12-weeks later (post group)

• Change in Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K-10)

  Pre-group and 12-weeks later (post group)

• Change in Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES)

  Pre-group and 12-weeks later (post group)

• Change in Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS)

  Pre-group and 12-weeks later (post group)

Study Arms (1)

Attending Improvisation Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Attended 3 or more Improvisation Group sessions

Other: Improvisation Group

Interventions

Improvisation Group OTHER

The aim of this pilot study is to investigate the effects of improvisational comedy in a group of help-seeking youth at risk of developing a range of mental health disorders, including social anxiety.

Attending Improvisation Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 17 Years - 25 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• help-seeking youth
• ages 17-25

You may not qualify if:

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

Sponsors & Collaborators

• St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton: lead

Study Sites (1)

Youth Wellness Centre

Hamilton, Ontario, L9C3L7, Canada

Location

Related Publications (24)

• Akinsola, E.F., & Udoka, P.A.. Parental Influence on Social Anxiety in Children and Adolescents: Its Assessment and Management Using Psychodrama. Psychology. 4(3A), 246-253, 2013.

  BACKGROUND

• Albano, A. M. & Kendall, P.C. (2002). Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Children and Adolescents with Anxiety Disorders: Clinical Research Advances. International Review of Psychiatry, 14, 129-134.

  BACKGROUND

• Bagley C, Bolitho F, Bertrand L. Norms and Construct Validity of the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale in Canadian High School Populations: Implications for counselling. Canadian Journal of Counselling. 1997;31(1):82.

  BACKGROUND

• Benjamin CL, O'Neil KA, Crawley SA, Beidas RS, Coles M, Kendall PC. Patterns and predictors of subjective units of distress in anxious youth. Behav Cogn Psychother. 2010 Jul;38(4):497-504. doi: 10.1017/S1352465810000287. Epub 2010 May 28.

  PMID: 20509987 BACKGROUND

• Bermant G. Working with(out) a net: improvisational theater and enhanced well-being. Front Psychol. 2013 Dec 10;4:929. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2013.00929. eCollection 2013. No abstract available.

  PMID: 24339820 BACKGROUND

• Besser A, Weinberg M, Zeigler-Hill V, Ataria Y, Neria Y. Humor and Trauma-Related Psychopathology Among Survivors of Terror Attacks and Their Spouses. Psychiatry. 2015;78(4):341-53. doi: 10.1080/00332747.2015.1061312.

  PMID: 26745687 BACKGROUND

• Butler, M. & Pang, M. (2014). Current Issues in Mental Health in Canada: Child and Youth Mental Health. Parliamentary Information and Research Service, Library of Parliament, Publication no. 2014-13.

  BACKGROUND

• Connor KM, Davidson JR, Churchill LE, Sherwood A, Foa E, Weisler RH. Psychometric properties of the Social Phobia Inventory (SPIN). New self-rating scale. Br J Psychiatry. 2000 Apr;176:379-86. doi: 10.1192/bjp.176.4.379.

  PMID: 10827888 BACKGROUND

• Ferner RE, Aronson JK. Laughter and MIRTH (Methodical Investigation of Risibility, Therapeutic and Harmful): narrative synthesis. BMJ. 2013 Dec 12;347:f7274. doi: 10.1136/bmj.f7274.

  PMID: 24336308 BACKGROUND

• Hayes SA, Miller NA, Hope DA, Heimberg RG, Juster HR. Assessing Client Progress Session by Session in the Treatment of Social Anxiety Disorder: The Social Anxiety Session Change Index. Cogn Behav Pract. 2008 May 1;15(2):203-2011. doi: 10.1016/j.cbpra.2007.02.010.

  PMID: 25075171 BACKGROUND

• Kendall, P.C., Robin, J.A., Hedtke, K.A., Suveg, C., Flannery-Schroeder, E. & Gosch, E. (2005). Considering CBT with Anxious Youth? Think Exposures. Cognitive and Behavioural Practice, 12, 136-150.

  BACKGROUND

• Kessler RC, Andrews G, Colpe LJ, Hiripi E, Mroczek DK, Normand SL, Walters EE, Zaslavsky AM. Short screening scales to monitor population prevalences and trends in non-specific psychological distress. Psychol Med. 2002 Aug;32(6):959-76. doi: 10.1017/s0033291702006074.

  PMID: 12214795 BACKGROUND

• Kessler RC, Chiu WT, Demler O, Merikangas KR, Walters EE. Prevalence, severity, and comorbidity of 12-month DSM-IV disorders in the National Comorbidity Survey Replication. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2005 Jun;62(6):617-27. doi: 10.1001/archpsyc.62.6.617.

  PMID: 15939839 BACKGROUND

• Kim SH, Kook JR, Kwon M, Son MH, Ahn SD, Kim YH. The effects of laughter therapy on mood state and self-esteem in cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy: a randomized controlled trial. J Altern Complement Med. 2015 Apr;21(4):217-22. doi: 10.1089/acm.2014.0152.

  PMID: 25875938 BACKGROUND

• Kindler, R.C. & Gray, A.A. (2010). Theater and Therapy: How Improvisation Informs the Analytic Hour. Psychoanalytic Inquiry, 30, 254-266. doi: 10.1080/07351690903206223

  BACKGROUND

• Kroenke K, Spitzer RL, Williams JB. The PHQ-9: validity of a brief depression severity measure. J Gen Intern Med. 2001 Sep;16(9):606-13. doi: 10.1046/j.1525-1497.2001.016009606.x.

  PMID: 11556941 BACKGROUND

• Mesa F, Beidel DC, Bunnell BE. An examination of psychopathology and daily impairment in adolescents with social anxiety disorder. PLoS One. 2014 Apr 1;9(4):e93668. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0093668. eCollection 2014.

  PMID: 24691406 BACKGROUND

• Misch DA. A PIECE OF MY MIND. I Feel Witty, Oh So Witty. JAMA. 2016 Jan 26;315(4):345-6. doi: 10.1001/jama.2015.16758. No abstract available.

  PMID: 26813204 BACKGROUND

• Palinkas LA. Qualitative and mixed methods in mental health services and implementation research. J Clin Child Adolesc Psychol. 2014;43(6):851-61. doi: 10.1080/15374416.2014.910791.

  PMID: 25350675 BACKGROUND

• Rudnick A, Kohn PM, Edwards KR, Podnar D, Caird S, Martin R. Humour-related interventions for people with mental illness: a randomized controlled pilot study. Community Ment Health J. 2014 Aug;50(6):737-42. doi: 10.1007/s10597-013-9685-4. Epub 2013 Dec 12.

  PMID: 24337476 BACKGROUND

• Sheesley, A.P., Pfeffer, M. & Barish, B. (2016). Comedic Improv Therapy for the Treatment of Social Anxiety Disorder. Journal of Creativity in Mental Health. 11(2), 157-169. doi: 10.1080/15401383.2016

  BACKGROUND

• Spitzer RL, Kroenke K, Williams JB, Lowe B. A brief measure for assessing generalized anxiety disorder: the GAD-7. Arch Intern Med. 2006 May 22;166(10):1092-7. doi: 10.1001/archinte.166.10.1092.

  PMID: 16717171 BACKGROUND

• Steitzer, C. (2011). The Brilliant Genius: Using Improv Comedy in Social Work Groups. Social Worker with Groups, 34, 270-282. doi: 10.1080/01609513.2011.558830

  BACKGROUND

• Yorton, T. (2005). Using Improv Methods to Overcome the Fear Factor. Wiley Periodicals. doi: 10.1002/ert.20036

  BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Anxiety Disorders; Depression

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Mental Disorders; Behavioral Symptoms; Behavior

Study Officials

• Juliana Tobon, PhD.,C.Psych

  St. Joseph's Research Institute

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: OTHER
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Psychologist

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: May 3, 2017
• First Posted: May 10, 2017
• Study Start: March 6, 2017
• Primary Completion: August 31, 2017
• Study Completion: August 31, 2017
• Last Updated: April 30, 2018

Record last verified: 2018-04

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

CA (1)