Mental Health Issue
Conditions
Keywords
Animal-assisted therapy, Mental Health, Adolescent Psychiatry, Hospital, Nonpharmaceutical interventions
Brief summary
The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of AAT intervention in adolescents admitted to the Acute Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Unit, regardless of diagnosis, in terms of improving self-efficacy and reducing anxiety symptoms. To assess professional opinions on the effects of intervention on participants, and to determine participant satisfaction. These objectives were accomplished through a multicenter, non-randomized, open-label, two-arm controlled study of AAT for adolescents with mental disorders.
Detailed description
The rationale of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of Animal Assisted Therapy (with therapy dogs) in adolescents admitted to the Acute Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Unit and regardless of diagnosis. The investigators conducted a multicenter, non-randomized, controlled, open-label, two-arm clinical trial in three hospitals. A total of 178 adolescents admitted to the Acute Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Unit were included in the study. Participants from the three hospitals were assigned to Experimental Group (n=114) and participants from one hospital were assigned to Control Group (n=64). Both the experimental group and the control group carried out a total of two one-hour group sessions at the hospitals' own facilities, on a weekly basis for two consecutive weeks; with the additional assistance of the therapy dog in the Experimental group. The investigators evaluated changes on self-efficacy and anxiety symptoms at pre-treatment and post-treatment; and they assessed professional opinions on the effects of intervention on participants at post-treatment, and determined participant satisfaction at post-treatment.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALAnimal Assisted Therapy (AAT)
A structured AAT program and pharmacological treatment in Experimental group. The same structured program without therapy dog and pharmacological treatment in Control group.
Sponsors
Hospital Universitari Santa Maria, Lleida
Hospital de Mataró
Hospital Infantil Universitario Niño Jesús, Madrid, Spain
Universidad Rey Juan Carlos
Fundacio d'Investigacio en Atencio Primaria Jordi Gol i Gurina
Study design
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
SEQUENTIAL
Primary purpose
HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH
Masking
NONE
Intervention model description
Multicenter, non-randomized, controlled, open-label, two-arm clinical trial
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
13 Years to 17 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* Be between 13 and 17 years of age. * Willing to participate in the study on a voluntary basis. * Delivery of the information sheet and signature of the informed consent (participant and legal guardian). * Attendance at both group sessions from the intervention.
Exclusion criteria
* If in the initial interview they declared having allergy or fear of dogs. * History of aggression towards animals. * Re-admissions who had already participated in the study. * If, when informed, the patient and/or his/her legal guardian did not wish to participate in the study.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change from baseline General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSE) at 2 weeks. | This scale was administered at baseline and at week 2 | Is a generic self-administered instrument for measuring self-efficacy beliefs in certain life situations. The total scale score ranges from 10 to 40 points. |
| Change from baseline State-Trait Anxiety Inventory Questionnaire (STAI) at 2 weeks. | This questionnaire was administered at baseline and at week 2 | Is a self-administered questionnaire that assesses the levels of clinical anxiety (both trait anxiety (most of the time) and state anxiety (at the present moment)). The total score on each of the subscales ranges from 0 to 60 points. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Participant evaluation questionnaire for professionals. | At the end of the intervention (week 2). | This is a questionnaire that was completed by the professionals in the three hospitals at the end of the intervention with the EG, using a Likert scale from 1 to 4 (1= Not at all, 2= Somewhat, 3= Quite, and 4= A lot). It contains the following questions: * Have you observed any positive changes in the patient's attitude since the AAT session? * Has the dog generated motivation? * Do you consider AAT useful for this patient? |
Other
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Participant satisfaction questionnaire at the end of the intervention. | At the end of the intervention (week 2). | The following question was asked in writing and answered by all participants (CG + EG): Did you enjoy the activity that was carried out? It consists of a Likert scale of 1= Not at all, 2= Somewhat, 3= Quite and 4= A lot. |
Countries
Spain
Outcome results
None listed