Research

General

Tedx: How Improv Comedy Improves Mental Health

US News and World Report: The Health Benefits of Practicing Improv

Washington Post: The Not-So-Funny Reason Therapists are Taking Comedy Classes

CBC News: Laughter Truly the Best Medicine for Mental Health Improv Group

Rutgers: Using Improv to Boost Confidence, Improve Mental Health

Autism & Autism Spectrum

NPR: Using Improv To Help Kids with Autism Show and Read Emotion

Chicago Tribune: For Teens on the Autism Spectrum, Improv Classes Can Aid Communication

Vanderbilt University: Improvement in Social Competence Using a Randomized Trial of a Theatre Intervention for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Autism Support Network: Autism, Life, and Learning Improv

Huffington Post: Teens with Autism Stretch, Grow, and Laugh in Improv Classes at Second City

Indiana Public Media: Whose Line is it Really? How Improv Benefits Children with Autism

Southern California Public Radio: How Improv Helps Kids with Autism: A Look at “Zip Zap Zop” Enrichment

Care.com: Improv Can Help Autistic Children Express Themselves

Trent University: Life is Improv: Mental Health, Seniors, and the Joy of Living in the Moment

Alzheimer’s & Dementia

Chicago Tribune: Laughter is the test medicine

American Medical Association: How Improv Is Helping Patients with Alzheimer’s disease

ABC News: Alzheimer’s Disease: Improv Helps Patients Live in the Moment

New York Times: Trying Improv as Therapy for Those with Memory Loss

TEDMED: Using Improv to Improve Life with Alzheimer’s

Huffington Post: Improvisation Can Help Heal– Even Trauma, Even Alzheimer’s

Guideposts.org: Alzheimer’s Disease: Comedy Improv is a Surprising Resource

Anxiety & Depression:

Medscape: Improv for Anxiety: A Stand-up Therapeutic Tool?

Psychology Today: Can Improv Comedy Treat Social Anxiety?

Anxiety.org: 7 Pillars of Improv to Achieve Flow and Decrease Anxiety

The Atlantic: Using Comedy Improv as Therapy for Anxiety

Illinois Institute of Technology: Thera-prov: a Pilot Study of Improv Used to Treat Anxiety and Depression