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

NCT ID: NCT07089927

Last Updated: 2025-12-30

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

20 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2025-07-02

Study Completion Date

2026-07-15

Brief Summary

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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

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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 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 12, 24 and 36 weeks.

Conditions

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Malignant Solid Neoplasm

Study Design

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Allocation Method

NA

Intervention Model

SINGLE_GROUP

Primary Study Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

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Supportive care (Virtual art therapy)

Patients complete virtual art therapy sessions, over 60 minutes, every 2 weeks, for 4 sessions. Patients then receive a 3D printed replica of their avatar.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Art Therapy

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Complete virtual art therapy sessions. When complete the participant will receive a 3D printed replica of the avatar.

Interview

Intervention Type OTHER

Ancillary studies

Survey Administration

Intervention Type OTHER

Ancillary studies

Interventions

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Art Therapy

Complete virtual art therapy sessions. When complete the participant will receive a 3D printed replica of the avatar.

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Interview

Ancillary studies

Intervention Type OTHER

Survey Administration

Ancillary studies

Intervention Type OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Aged 18-25 years of age at the time of enrollment and able to provide informed consent
* Mild or greater depression \[Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-A) score \> 5\]
* Received a cancer diagnosis during the past year, or completed cancer treatment 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

Exclusion Criteria

* 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)
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

25 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Mayo Clinic

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

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C. Robert Bennett, PhD, RN

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Mayo Clinic

Locations

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Mayo Clinic in Arizona

Scottsdale, Arizona, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Mayo Clinic in Rochester

Rochester, Minnesota, United States

Site Status NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Countries

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United States

Central Contacts

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Regina Becker

Role: CONTACT

Phone: 480-342-6079

Email: [email protected]

Facility Contacts

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Regina Becker

Role: primary

Regina Becker

Role: primary

Other Identifiers

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NCI-2025-04978

Identifier Type: REGISTRY

Identifier Source: secondary_id

24-012402

Identifier Type: OTHER

Identifier Source: secondary_id

AVATARS

Identifier Type: OTHER

Identifier Source: secondary_id

AVATARS

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id