Workshop for Individuals Living With Paralysis
AIM's Writing for Healing: A Workshop for Individuals Living With Paralysis
This study is testing a writing workshop for adults with paralysis to help them cope with their feelings and improve their overall well-being.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Enrollment | 160 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | University of Alabama at Birmingham Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Birmingham, Alabama) |
| Trial ID | NCT04721717 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
The UAB Institute for Arts In Medicine is implementing a pilot project focused on expressive emotional writing for adults with paralysis due to neurological conditions. This program aims to help participants cope with grief from their loss of physical capacity and improve their overall well-being. By encouraging individuals to write about their experiences, the project seeks to shift their focus from loss to restoring daily function and enhancing their quality of life. The workshop is designed for those who can communicate verbally or through writing and aims to provide community-based support for healthy grieving.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates include adults aged 18 or older with paralysis resulting from traumatic events or neurological diseases.
Not a fit: Patients with congenital paralysis or those exhibiting maladaptive behavioral patterns or psychotic symptoms may not benefit from this program.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this program could significantly improve the emotional and psychosocial well-being of individuals living with paralysis.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have shown that expressive writing can lead to improvements in health status and well-being for individuals with chronic conditions, suggesting a promising approach.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Age 18 or older with paralysis living in the community 2. limb paralysis resulting from a traumatic event/accident or neurological disease (e.g., spinal cord injury, head injury, stroke, multiple sclerosis, Transverse myelitis, poliomyelitis, peripheral neuropathy, Parkinson's disease, ALS, botulism, and Guillain-Barré syndrome etc) happened after childhood 3. a non-traumatic spinal cord injury may be caused by arthritis, cancer, inflammation, infections or disk degeneration of the spine 4. caregivers of people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis 5. able to communicate verbally or through writing Exclusion Criteria: 1. known maladaptive behavioral patterns, exhibition of overt psychotic symptoms (e.g., presence of hallucinations, delusions, or thought disorders) 2. congenital (e.g., spinal bifida, cerebral palsy)
Where this trial is running
Birmingham, Alabama
- 354 School of Health Professions Building — Birmingham, Alabama, United States (Recruiting)
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.