Effects of Dog-assisted Therapy in Adolescents With Eating Disorders: a Controlled Trial.
Overview
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Intervention
- Not specified
- Conditions
- Eating Disorders in Adolescence
- Sponsor
- Daniel Collado-Mateo
- Enrollment
- 32
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- Changes in Health-related quality of life
- Last Updated
- 4 years ago
Overview
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.
Investigators
Daniel Collado-Mateo
Assistant Professor
Universidad Rey Juan Carlos
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
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Changes in Health-related quality of life
Time Frame: At baseline and inmediately after the intervention (within 7 days after the last session)
Measured by the Kidscreen-10, which consists of 10 items scored on a 5-point Likert scale. Scores range between 10 and 50, and a higher score means better health-related quality of life.
Changes in Eating disorder symptoms
Time Frame: At baseline and inmediately after the intervention (within 7 days after the last session)
Measured by the EDI-2 questionnaire to evaluate the evolution of anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa normal symptoms. The EDI 2 is a 91 item scale with 8 subscales - (Drive for thinness, Bulimia, body dissatisfaction, ineffectiveness, perfection, interpersonal distrust, interoceptive awareness and maturity fears.). Respondents rate each item from 5 (usually), to 0 (never). Higher scores mean more severe symptoms.
Secondary Outcomes
- Changes in Strength(At baseline and inmediately after the intervention (within 7 days after the last session))
- Changes in Depression(At baseline and inmediately after the intervention (within 7 days after the last session))
- Changes in Body mass(At baseline and inmediately after the intervention (within 7 days after the last session))
- Changes in Behavior(At baseline and inmediately after the intervention (within 7 days after the last session))
- Changes in Anxiety(At baseline and inmediately after the intervention (within 7 days after the last session))
- Treatment satisfaction(Inmediately after the intervention (within 7 days after the last session))
- Changes in Adolescent character(At baseline and inmediately after the intervention (within 7 days after the last session))