Creative arts therapy for children with intellectual disabilities and their mothers

Effectiveness of Dyadic Creative Arts Therapies (CAT)-Based Intervention for Improvement of Mother-Child Relationship in Children With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: A Mixed Methods RCT

Not applicable Interventional University of Haifa · NCT06541782

This study is testing a creative arts therapy program to see if it can help improve the relationships between mothers and their children with intellectual disabilities.

Quick facts

PhaseNot applicable
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment60 (estimated)
Ages3 Years to 7 Years
SexAll
SponsorUniversity of Haifa Academic / other
Locations1 site (Haifa)
Trial IDNCT06541782 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This intervention focuses on enhancing the interactions between children with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and their mothers through a dyadic Creative Arts Therapies (CAT)-based approach. The study aims to develop a structured intervention that promotes playful and enjoyable interactions, which are often lacking in typical parent-child dynamics in this population. By comparing the effects of the CAT-based intervention to standard psycho-educational counseling, the research will assess improvements in the quality of mother-child relationships and the socio-emotional development of the children. The study employs a mixed-methods randomized controlled trial design to evaluate both quantitative and qualitative outcomes.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this study are children aged 3-7 with a diagnosis of intellectual and developmental disabilities, along with their mothers.

Not a fit: Patients with additional diagnoses such as autism spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy, severe physical disabilities, or sensory disorders may not benefit from this intervention.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this intervention could significantly improve the quality of interactions between mothers and their children with IDD, enhancing both emotional well-being and developmental outcomes.

How similar studies have performed: While similar interventions have shown promise in enhancing parent-child interactions, this specific approach using dyadic creative arts therapies is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Children between the age of 3-7
* Children with a prior diagnosis of IDD, or studying in special education nursery schools for children with developmental delays
* The children's mothers

Exclusion Criteria:

* Children with additional primary diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder or cerebral palsy
* Children with additional diagnosis of severe physical disability or serious movement limitations
* Children with additional diagnosis of sensory disorders such as blindness or deafness

Where this trial is running

Haifa

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Intellectual Disabilities Global Developmental DelayMusic and Play InterventionDyadic InterventionChildren with Intellectual and Developmental DisabilitiesPlayfulnessParental PlayfulnessMother-Child Relationship
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.