Expressive art for the social and community integration of adolescents with acquired brain injuries: a systematic review

Abstract

Adolescents with acquired brain injuries suffer from social and community withdrawal that result in isolation from their peer groups. The review highlights the evidence of effectiveness of expressive art interventions in the form of theatre for populations with difficulties in physical, emotional, cognitive, or social functioning. A systematic search from 1995 to May 2007 was carried out and 10 studies were retrieved that focused on drama-based treatments and programmes used to improve aspects of social or community integration for a broad range of populations. The studies were published in English in Canada, the USA, and the UK. Current evidence supports the effectiveness of drama therapy in terms of improvements in psychological health, emotional intelligence, cognitive function, social integration, but not necessarily community integration. The findings indicate that theatre skills training might facilitate community integration in addition to social integration in adolescents with acquired brain injuries if it is formally measured as such.