Fetal Alcohol Effect, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Disorders
Conditions
Keywords
Dog-assisted therapy, Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder L, ongitudinal follow-up, Child and adolescent mental health, Caregivers' emotional well-being.
Brief summary
This study looks at whether dog-assisted therapy helps children and adolescents with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder improve social skills, behavior, quality of life, and emotional well-being, and whether these benefits last over time. It is also aimed at assessing caregivers' emotional well-being. Participants will already have completed the therapy, and the study will follow them at different time points to see if the changes remain months later. Families and health care providers should know that the evaluation uses standard questionnaires and clinical ratings, with no new invasive procedures, and the main goal is to better understand which children and families benefit most and how to make this type of therapy more effective in routine care.
Detailed description
This longitudinal study evaluates whether the benefits of dog-assisted therapy in children and adolescents with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder are maintained over time. The project focuses on social functioning, behavior, quality of life, clinical severity, and the emotional well-being of caregivers, using repeated follow-up assessments after treatment. The aim is to determine the durability of the intervention effects and identify factors that may influence long-term outcomes.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALDog assisted therapy
The intervention consists of a structured dog-assisted therapy program previously delivered to children and adolescents with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder in the clinical setting. It is distinguished by the active involvement of a trained therapy dog as part of the therapeutic process, with sessions designed to promote social interaction, emotional regulation, behavioral engagement, and communication. The present study does not introduce a new intervention; rather, it evaluates the persistence of the effects produced by this specific dog-assisted therapy program over time.
Sponsors
Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron Research Institute
Study design
Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
OTHER
Masking
NONE
Intervention model description
This study follows a cohort of children and adolescents with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder who have previously completed dog-assisted therapy. Outcomes are assessed at multiple follow-up time points to determine whether the therapeutic benefits remain stable over time. The study also considers caregiver emotional well-being and potential external factors that may influence long-term outcomes.
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
6 Years to 18 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
all participants needed to have stable doses of medication for at least two months before the study and agree not to seek out any other psychiatric or psychological treatment during the study. \-
Exclusion criteria
Patients who were not behaviorally stable, presented agressive behavior or required more intensive treatment (hospitalization or day hospital) were excluded. \-
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children | Single administration baseline | Intellectual Quotient |
| Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL by Achenbach) | 3, 6 and 12 months after baseline | Internalizing/ Externalizing Symptoms maximum scores for symptom severity |
| Social Skills Improvement System-Parent Form (SSIS-P) | 3, 6 and 12 months after baseline | Social skills assessment - 0 to 60 max scotring |
| KidScreen 27- 0 maximum 135 - highest severity symptoms at 135 | 3, 6 and 12 months after baseline | Quality of life assesment |
| Clinical Global Impression Scale for Severity.0 to 7 (7 most severely ill). | 3,6 and 12 months after baseline | Severity of FASD symptoms |
Countries
Spain
Outcome results
None listed