What side effects are associated with this type of intervention?

Creative arts programs, including visual, musical, written, or physical expression, are generally considered safe and have few side effects. However, potential side effects may include the activation of unresolved emotions, which can lead to temporary emotional distress. Additionally, the effectiveness of the therapy can be influenced by the skill level of the therapist, and sudden termination of therapy might cause emotional discomfort. Overall, these therapies are well-tolerated and can provide significant mental health benefits.

What prior FDA approvals exist?

As of now, there are no specific FDA-approved treatments for burnout. However, treatments that focus on mental health and well-being, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), are commonly used for related conditions like depression and anxiety. The Creative Arts Programs being studied, which include visual, musical, written, or physical expression, are innovative approaches aimed at reducing symptoms of burnout, PTSD, depression, and anxiety among healthcare professionals. These programs are not yet FDA-approved but represent a growing interest in holistic and integrative mental health therapies.

What other types of research exist?

Promising, novel alternatives to Creative Arts Programs for treating burnout include: 1) Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), which has shown effectiveness in reducing stress and improving mental well-being; 2) Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I), which can improve sleep quality and overall psychological health; 3) Compulsive Exercise Activity Therapy (LEAP), which addresses compulsive behaviors and promotes healthy physical activity; and 4) Digital and telehealth-based interventions, which offer accessible and flexible mental health support.

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Creative Arts Program for Burnout (CORAL Trial)

N/A

Waitlist Available

Led By Marc Moss, MD

Research Sponsored by University of Colorado, Denver

Eligibility Criteria Checklist

Specific guidelines that determine who can or cannot participate in a clinical trial

Must have

Be older than 18 years old

Timeline

Screening 3 weeks

Treatment Varies

Follow Up baseline and after 12 weeks.

Awards & highlights

No Placebo-Only Group

Summary

This trial is testing if creative activities like drawing, music, writing, or physical exercises can help reduce stress, burnout, PTSD, depression, and anxiety in critical care healthcare workers. The study also looks at whether these activities can help them feel more connected to their work and develop better coping skills while spending time with their peers.

Who is the study for?

This trial is for healthcare professionals working in hospitals at least 20 hours a week who are experiencing burnout, as indicated by specific scores on the Maslach Burnout Inventory. It's not open to those unwilling to engage in any of the creative arts interventions offered.

What is being tested?

The study is testing whether visual arts, music, dance/movement, or writing/poetry can help reduce burnout, PTSD symptoms, depression and anxiety among critical care healthcare workers. It also looks at improving work purpose connection and coping skills.

What are the potential side effects?

Since this trial involves participation in creative arts programs rather than medical or pharmaceutical interventions, traditional side effects are not expected; however participants may experience emotional discomfort.

Timeline

Screening ~ 3 weeks3 visits

Treatment ~ Varies

Follow Up ~ baseline and after 12 weeks

Screening ~ 3 weeks

Treatment ~ Varies

Follow Up ~baseline and after 12 weeks

This trial's timeline: 3 weeks for screening, Varies for treatment, and baseline and after 12 weeks for reporting.

Treatment Details

Study Objectives

Study objectives can provide a clearer picture of what you can expect from a treatment.

Primary study objectives

Acceptability/Satisfaction of Intervention as assessed by Client Satisfaction Questionnaire (CSQ-8) scores to yield a homogeneous estimate of general satisfaction.

Secondary study objectives

Change in level of Burnout as measured by Maslach Burnout Inventory.

Change in level of psychological distress as measured by Posttraumatic Diagnostic Scale (PDS).

Change in level of psychological distress as measured by the Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale (HADS).

+6 more

Awards & Highlights

No Placebo-Only Group

All patients enrolled in this study will receive some form of active treatment.

Trial Design

5Treatment groups

Experimental Treatment

Group I: Writing/Poetry GroupExperimental Treatment1 Intervention

Writing/Poetry group uses writing workshops using integral elements of good writing.

Group II: Visual Arts GroupExperimental Treatment1 Intervention

Visual Arts group - sketch journals

Group III: Music GroupExperimental Treatment1 Intervention

Music group involves music-listening exercises (such as lyric analysis, patient-chosen, music for relaxation and/or visualization) and active music making.

Group IV: Dance/Movement GroupExperimental Treatment1 Intervention

Dance/Movement group - movement check-in, gentle physical warm-up, and then either a structured or improvisational movement process.

Group V: Control GroupExperimental Treatment1 Intervention

Surveys at baseline and 12 weeks later.

Treatment

First Studied

Drug Approval Stage

How many patients have taken this drug

Music

2013

Completed Phase 3

~1810

Control

2011

Completed Phase 4

~15780

Do I qualify?Apply below to find out

Research Highlights

Information in this section is not a recommendation. We encourage patients to speak with their healthcare team when evaluating any treatment decision.

Mechanism Of Action

Side Effect Profile

Prior Approvals

Other Research

Creative arts programs, including visual, musical, written, or physical expression, help treat burnout by facilitating emotional processing, reducing stress, and enhancing coping skills. These therapies offer a non-verbal outlet for expressing complex emotions, fostering a sense of accomplishment and purpose. This is crucial for burnout patients as it helps them reconnect with their work's purpose, develop better coping strategies, and reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety.

Protocol for the REPAT study: role of emotional processing in art therapy for breast cancer palliative care patients.A manual-based phenomenological art therapy for individuals diagnosed with moderate to severe depression (PATd): A randomized controlled study.Systematic review and economic modelling of the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of art therapy among people with non-psychotic mental health disorders.