Suicidal adolescent perceptions after an art future image intervention.

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore reactions of hospitalized, suicidal adolescents to an art future image intervention (AFI). During the intervention adolescents were asked to rethink future expectations while creating a caricature of themselves in the future. Seventeen follow-up interviews were coded and analyzed to determine the meaning of the intervention to the adolescents. A structural definition of the AFI extracted from the themes of the interviews, described the process that adolescents experience during the intervention, which was "an irritating but humorous identity search which rekindled dreams as control over one's future was anticipated." The intervention has been adapted for use in a number of clinical situations and populations. The AFI continues as a part of the treatment regime on an inpatient adolescent psychiatric unit to help teenagers regain hope for the future.