Animal-Assisted Therapy in Adolescents With Eating Disorders

NCT04869423 | Unknown

• 1 other identifier: AAT_Eat_Disorders
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 32
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

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.

Conditions

Eating Disorders in Adolescence; Eating Disorders; Anorexia Nervosa/Bulimia

Keywords

Dog-assisted intervention; Eating Disorder Symptom; Depression; Anxiety; Adolescent behavior and character; Health-related quality of life; Strength; Body composition; Treatment satisfaction

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Changes in Eating disorder symptoms

  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.

  At baseline and inmediately after the intervention (within 7 days after the last session)

• Changes in Health-related quality of life

  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.

  At baseline and inmediately after the intervention (within 7 days after the last session)

Secondary Outcomes (7)

• Changes in Anxiety

  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 Adolescent character

  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 Strength

  At baseline and inmediately after the intervention (within 7 days after the last session)

Study Arms (2)

Control group

NO INTERVENTION

Participants in this group will simply continue with their daily living and therapies. Assessments will be conducted before and after the 7wk program but patients in this group will not take part in it

Experimental group

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants in this group will take part in 7 dog-assisted therapy sessions (1 per week). This therapy will be added to their usual daily living and therapies. Assessments will be conducted before and after the 7-week program.

Behavioral: Dog-Assisted Therapy

Interventions

Dog-Assisted Therapy BEHAVIORAL

During seven weeks patients will assist one time per week (1 hour). The therapy will be conducted by an expert psychologist. 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.

Also known as: animal-assisted therapy, animal-assisted intervention

Experimental group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: Up to 18 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• 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.

You may not qualify if:

• Patients with dog-allergy or dog phobia
• Adolescents with a history of impulsive animal aggression

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Daniel Collado-Mateo: lead
• Purina España (Reg. Trademark of Nestle S.A.): collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Niño Jesús University Hospital

Madrid, 28009, Spain

Location

Related Publications (1)

• Nunez BM, Sanchez JF, Perez AML, Rincon LL, Garcia MF, Garcia IG, Berna MG, Mateo DC. Effects of Dog-assisted Therapy in Anxiety Symptoms of Female Adolescents With Eating Disorders: A Controlled Trial. Actas Esp Psiquiatr. 2025 Dec;53(6):1265-1273. doi: 10.62641/aep.v53i6.1919.

  PMID: 41437761 DERIVED

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Feeding and Eating Disorders; Anorexia Nervosa; Bulimia; Depression; Anxiety Disorders; Adolescent Behavior

Interventions

Animal Assisted Therapy

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Signs and Symptoms, Digestive; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Mental Disorders; Hyperphagia; Behavioral Symptoms; Behavior

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Rehabilitation; Aftercare; Continuity of Patient Care; Patient Care; Therapeutics; Physical Therapy Modalities; Psychotherapy; Behavioral Disciplines and Activities; Health Services; Health Care Facilities Workforce and Services

Study Officials

• Daniel Collado-Mateo, PhD

  Universidad Rey Juan Carlos

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NON RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: INVESTIGATOR
• Purpose: SUPPORTIVE CARE
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Assistant Professor

Model Details: Two groups: one control and one experimental group

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: April 28, 2021
• First Posted: May 3, 2021
• Study Start: April 30, 2021
• Primary Completion: November 30, 2021
• Study Completion: November 30, 2021
• Last Updated: September 28, 2021

Record last verified: 2021-09

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

ES (1)