Alliance, Therapeutic, Motivation
Conditions
Brief summary
The aim of the study is to investigate the needed extent and the way a dog is integrated into psychotherapeutic interventions for them to be motivating and alliance building for children and adolescents with psychiatric disorders aged 9 to 17 years old. Specifically, we want to elaborate if the dog needs to be integrated into the therapy in a form that it is part of the therapeutic context or if the presence of the dog without being part of the therapeutic context per se is beneficial.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALStandard Psychotherapy
Participants receive a standard psychotherapy session with no dog being present.
BEHAVIORALCanine-assisted psychotherapy with dog actively integrated.
A dog is present and actively integrated into the therapeutic narrative.
BEHAVIORALCanine-assisted psychotherapy with dog passively integrated.
A dog is present but not actively integrated into the therapeutic narrative.
Sponsors
University of Basel
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE (Subject)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
9 Years to 17 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
for children and adolescents: : * Age between 9 and 17 years * Children are seeing the therapist for the first time * Basic knowledge of child and parents in either German or English to be able to fill in questionnaires * Informed consent given by legal guardian * Positive or neutral attitude towards dogs
Exclusion criteria
for children and adolescents: : * acute psychosis; early childhood autism * diagnosed developmental disorder or intellectual delay; if not diagnosed, exclusion when questionnaires cannot be completed due to development level * fear of dogs * allergic reactions to dogs * reported aggressive behavior towards animals in the past Inclusion criteria for therapists: * working with an own therapy dog * completed therapy training or if not completed far advanced therapy training under supervision * working with children and adolescents aged 9 to 17 years
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Therapeutic alliance of patients | 9 weeks | Patient's reported therapeutic alliance is measured after the first, the third and the fifth therapy session of a newly began psychotherapy using the german adaptation of the Therapeutic Alliance Scales for Children (TASC). The TASC consists of 12 items, answered with a 4 point likert scale. The questionnaire assesses the therapeutic alliance from the perception of the child. Four weeks after the fifth therapy session children will be asked to fill in the questionnaire again as follow-up measurement. |
| Motivation of patients | 9 weeks | Patient's reported motivation is measured after the first, the third and the fifth therapy session of a newly began psychotherapy using the Situational Motivation Scale for children (SMS-15). The SMS-15 consists of 15 items answered with a 7 point likert scale. Four weeks after the fifth therapy session, children will be asked to fill in the questionnaire again as follow-up measurement. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Treatment satisfaction of patients | 4 weeks | Treatment satisfaction of children is measured after the fifth therapy session as well as four weeks after as follow up using the treatment assessment questionnaire (FBB). The FBB consists of 20 items answered with a 5 point likert scale. |
| Number of missed sessions | 5 weeks | Number of missed sessions and drop-outs will be documented for each child participating in the study. |
Countries
Switzerland
Contacts
Primary ContactKarin Hediger, Prof. Dr.
Backup ContactWanda Arnskötter, Msc.
Outcome results
None listed