Recruiting

AVATARS

Sponsor:

Mayo Clinic

Code:

NCT07089927

Conditions

Malignant Solid Neoplasm

Hematopoietic and Lymphatic System Neoplasm

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 10 - 25

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Interventions

Art Therapy

Interview

Survey Administration

Study Details

Brief 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.

Conditions

Malignant Solid Neoplasm

Hematopoietic and Lymphatic System Neoplasm

Study ID

NCT07089927

Start date

Jul 2, 2025

Status verified date

Mar, 2026

Completion date

Jul 15, 2027

Anticipated

Primary completion date

Jul 15, 2027

Anticipated

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 10 - 25

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Inclusion Criteria:

  • If young adult- aged 18-25 years of age at the time of enrollment and able to provide informed consent, if adolescent- aged 10-17 years at the time of enrollment and able to provide
  • 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 virtual videoconferencing (e.g., personal device or public library access)
  • Able to read and write in English

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Visual or cognitive impairment which may impede completing the art project or the data collection measures
  • Endorsed suicidality (via PHQ-A or otherwise)

Study Design

Enrollment

30 participants

Anticipated

Intervention Model

Single group

Primary purpose

Supportive Care

Interventions and Outcome Measures

Arms

experimental: Supportive care (Virtual art therapy)

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.

Interventions

Art Therapy

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

Interview

Ancillary studies

Survey Administration

Ancillary studies

Primary outcome measure

  • Feasibility-Enrollment [ Time Frame: Up to 4 months ]
  • Feasibility-Completion [ Time Frame: Up to 4 months ]
  • Intervention Usability Scale [ Time Frame: Up to 4 months ]
  • Acceptability-Exit Interview [ Time Frame: Up to 6 months ]
  • Change in Anxiety [ Time Frame: T1 (at baseline within 48 hours of recruitment), T2 (within 72 hours post session two, and T3 (within 72 hours post session four), T4 (1 month post session four), and an optional measement at T5 (2 months post session four ]
  • Change in Depression [ Time Frame: T1 (at baseline within 48 hours of recruitment), T2 (within 72 hours post session two, and T3 (within 72 hours post session four), T4 (1 month post session four), and an optional measement at T5 (2 months post session four ]
  • Change in Resilience [ Time Frame: T1 (at baseline within 48 hours of recruitment), T2 (within 72 hours post session two, and T3 (within 72 hours post session four), T4 (1 month post session four), and an optional measement at T5 (2 months post session four ]
  • Change in Emotional regulation [ Time Frame: T1 (at baseline within 48 hours of recruitment), T2 (within 72 hours post session two, and T3 (within 72 hours post session four), T4 (1 month post session four), and an optional measement at T5 (2 months post session four ]

Central Contacts and Locations

Central contacts

Regina Becker

480-342-6079Becker.regina@mayo.edu

Locations

Mayo Clinic in Arizona

Recruiting

Scottsdale, Arizona, United States, 85259

Contacts

Regina Becker

480-342-6079Becker.regina@mayo.edu

Principal Investigator:

C. Robert Bennett, PhD, RN

More Information

Sponsor

Mayo Clinic

Last update posted

Mar 30, 2026

Last verified

Mar, 2026

Trial information was received from ClinicalTrials.gov and was last updated on 2026-09-09. This information was provided to ClinicalTrials.gov by Mayo Clinic on 2026-03-30.