Animal-Assisted Therapy in Adolescents With Eating Disorders

NCT ID: NCT04869423

Last Updated: 2021-09-28

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: UNKNOWN
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 32 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2021-04-30
• Study Completion Date: 2021-11-30

Brief Summary

This study aims to improve eating disorders symptomatology, mental, psychosocial and physical health, quality of life, strength and body composition of adolescents with eating disorders by the development of a dog-assisted therapy program.

The current research will involve thirty-two patients distributed equally in a control and an experimental group. The intervention group will participate once a week in a dog-assisted therapy of seven weeks. Moreover, all the included patients will participate in an assessment session before and after the intervention to compare the effects of the dog-assisted therapy within and between groups in anxiety, depression, character, behavior, eating disorder evolution, health-related quality of life, treatment satisfaction, strength and body composition.

Based on previous studies on different populations, it is expected that, compared to the control group, the experimental group may experience a potential reduction in anxiety, depression and symptoms, while improving quality of life, strength, body composition and behavior.

Detailed Description

Animal-Assisted Therapies (AAT) have proved to increase self-esteem, social capacity and impulse control while reducing anxiety and depression. Thus, AAT could be an innovative and effective therapy to improve the mental, social and physical health of adolescents with eating disorders.

Based on previous studies on different populations, it is expected that, compared to the control group, the experimental group may experience a potential reduction in anxiety, depression and symptoms, while improving quality of life, strength, body composition and behavior.

Thirty-two adolescents, younger than 18 years and diagnosed with eating disorders from the University Hospital Niño Jesus will participate in this study. The informed consent must be signed to be included in the study.

The intervention will consist of 7 weeks conducted once a week (50 minutes each session). It will include three parts: 1) a welcome part aimed to get in touch with the dog, 2) a main part, where participants will be taught basic notions about dog training and then try to train the dogs. In this part, the patients will perform different activities and exercises with the dog. 3) A closing part to say goodbye to the dogs.

Conditions

Eating Disorders in Adolescence; Eating Disorders; Anorexia Nervosa/Bulimia

Study Design

• Allocation Method: NON_RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: SUPPORTIVE_CARE
• Blinding Strategy: SINGLE

Study Groups

Control group

Participants in this group will simply continue with their daily living and therapies. Assessments will be conducted before and after the 7wk program but patients in this group will not take part in it

Group Type: NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

Experimental group

Participants in this group will take part in 7 dog-assisted therapy sessions (1 per week). This therapy will be added to their usual daily living and therapies. Assessments will be conducted before and after the 7-week program.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Dog-Assisted Therapy

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

During seven weeks patients will assist one time per week (1 hour). The therapy will be conducted by an expert psychologist. The intervention will consist of 7 weeks conducted once a week (50 minutes each session). It will include three parts: 1) a welcome part aimed to get in touch with the dog, 2) a main part, where participants will be taught basic notions about dog training and then try to train the dogs. In this part, the patients will perform different activities and exercises with the dog. 3) A closing part to say goodbye to the dogs.

Interventions

Dog-Assisted Therapy

During seven weeks patients will assist one time per week (1 hour). The therapy will be conducted by an expert psychologist. The intervention will consist of 7 weeks conducted once a week (50 minutes each session). It will include three parts: 1) a welcome part aimed to get in touch with the dog, 2) a main part, where participants will be taught basic notions about dog training and then try to train the dogs. In this part, the patients will perform different activities and exercises with the dog. 3) A closing part to say goodbye to the dogs.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Other Intervention Names

animal-assisted therapy; animal-assisted intervention

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Adolescents in the Psychiatry and Psychology Service of the Niño Jesús University Hospital
• Patients diagnosed with eating disorders
• Adolescents with the willingness to participate and availability to assist
• Having read and signed the written informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria

• Patients with dog-allergy or dog phobia
• Adolescents with a history of impulsive animal aggression

• Maximum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Purina España (Reg. Trademark of Nestle S.A.)

UNKNOWN

Sponsor Role: collaborator

Daniel Collado-Mateo

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Daniel Collado-Mateo

Assistant Professor

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Daniel Collado-Mateo, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Universidad Rey Juan Carlos

Locations

Niño Jesús University Hospital

Madrid, , Spain

Countries

Spain

Other Identifiers

AAT_Eat_Disorders

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id