Dog Assisted Therapy: Comparing Duration Treatments for Patients with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder

NCT ID: NCT06763614

Last Updated: 2025-01-08

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 55 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2022-02-20
• Study Completion Date: 2023-08-20

Brief Summary

The objective of the present study was to assess the efficacy of a shorter version program of Dog Assisted Therapy (DAT) (8 sessions) compared to a longer version (16 sessions) for children and adolescents with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FASD). We evaluated the impact of DAT on social skills, internalizing and externalizing problems, quality of life, severity of the disorder and emotional well-being of parents. We conducted a randomized controlled trial in a cohort of 55 patients with FASD.

Detailed Description

FASD can be classified into three subtypes. FAS is identified by (1) facial abnormalities, (2) growth deficits, abnormal brain development, or irregularities in neurophysiology, and (3) neurobehavioral issues. Partial Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) shares similarities but presents with fewer physical characteristics, while Alcohol-Related Neurobehavioral Disorder (ARND) solely exhibits neurobehavioral symptoms without facial anomalies.

Previous research has highlighted the effectiveness of psychological intervention programs focused on emotional regulation for individuals with FASD. Similarly, studies have emphasized the benefits of interventions targeting social skills. These interventions have been shown to result in reductions in externalizing behaviors, with social skills training specifically correlating with improvements in social competence and a decrease in problematic behaviors Recently a new form of behavioral therapy has been gaining popularity in improving the physical and mental health of young adults, known as Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT). Animal Assisted Therapy lays its foundation in human attachment theory and social cognitive theory where it is argued that animals can be potentially viewed as a transitional attachment object and thus aid to improve psychosocial functioning.

Conditions

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders

Study Design

• Allocation Method: NA
• Intervention Model: SINGLE_GROUP
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

A Randomised Controlled Study Of Dog Assisted Therapy

We tested 8 week dog assisted therapy for patients with FASD vs 16 week treatment for patients with FASD

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Dog assisted therapy - animal interventions

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Animal Assisted Therapy is when animals are used in goal directed treatment sessions. These goals are working emotionalaspects pf childres and adolescents with SAF

Interventions

Dog assisted therapy - animal interventions

Animal Assisted Therapy is when animals are used in goal directed treatment sessions. These goals are working emotionalaspects pf childres and adolescents with SAF

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

-

Exclusion Criteria

-

• Minimum Eligible Age: 6 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Fundacion Probitas

UNKNOWN

Sponsor Role: collaborator

Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron Research Institute

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

Josep Antoni Ramos Quirogfa, MD-PHD

Role: STUDY_DIRECTOR

Comitè Ètic d'Investigació Clínica HUVH Barcelona, Barcelona Spain

Locations

Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron

Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain

Countries

Spain

Other Identifiers

DAT-VH-2023

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id