Comparing the Effectiveness of Art and Sand-play in Reducing PTSD Among Refugee Children

Summary

Due to the political state of Syria, Jordan is experiencing a major increase in the number of Syrians seeking asylum each year, a quarter of which are children. The stressors these refugees are exposed to are described in three stages: (1) while in their country of origin; (2) during their escape to safety; and (3) when having to settle in a country of refuge.

The available literature shows consistently increased levels of psychological morbidity among refugee children, especially post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It is argued that mental health clinics could use creative art therapies as a means of reaching out to war refugees in their communities who may not respond to traditional therapy. The difference in effectiveness between art and sand-play therapy, two models of nonverbal psychosocial therapy, on Syrian refugee children with PTSD, will be evaluated using a pretest-posttest control group design with 90 preadolescents (ages 6-12) exhibiting PTSD. Children will be randomized into two experimental groups (n = 30 for each) to receive sandplay or art therapy for 12 weeks, while the control group (n = 30) will receive no formal treatment. The effectiveness of each form of therapy will be determined using a questionnaire and then compared within and between group(s). Further statistical analysis will be used to determine which therapy was more effective in mitigating PTSD.

Conditions

• PTSD - Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Sandplay Therapy

Sandplay Therapy - The objects involved in this form of therapy are: sandtray, sand, multiple figurines in all categories (people, animals, buildings, vehicles, vegetation, structures, natural objects and symbolic objects). The subject engaging in this therapy is instructed to build a sand picture with the minatures present. There is no time limit to these sessions; however, they tend to be 20-30 minutes long. Upon completion of their sand picture the child, if comfortable, may elaborate on their creation.

BEHAVIORAL

Art Therapy

Art Therapy - The instruments used in this form of therapy are: a blank 8" x 11" paper and coloring utensils (markers, crayons, and color pencils). During each 30-minute session, the subject is informed to draw whatever they feel with the coloring utensils provided. Possible drawing topics may include: their family, a memory of their life back in their country of origin, or something from their imagination.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• King Abdullah University Hospital

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Abdallah Alzoubi, MD, PhD · Medical School of Jordan University of Science and Technology

• Khalid A Kheirallah, PhD · Medical School of Jordan University of Science and Technology

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

6 Years

Max Age

12 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2015-04-01

Primary Completion

2017-05-31

Completion

2018-12-31

Countries

• Jordan

Study Locations