Comparison Between a Live Canine or Toy Dog on Prosocial Behavior and Emotional Regulation in Autistic Children

University of Arkansas, Fayetteville

Status: Completed

Conditions: Human Animal Bonding; Emotional Regulation; Prosocial Behavior; Human Animal Interaction; Autism

Treatments: Behavioral: Behavioral therapy; Behavioral: Animal-assisted therapy

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06915415

2307483365

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study investigated the human-animal interaction (HAI) and bond (HAB) between a canine trained in therapy techniques or a canine plush toy and youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) during animal-assisted therapy (AAT) sessions. The purpose of this study is to explore identified gaps in knowledge pertaining to AAT in pediatric ASD care management by documenting human interaction between either a live canine or the plush toy canine during AAT sessions and evaluating prosocial behaviors observed during and after AAT sessions.

This study addressed the following research questions:

1. How do children with autism ages 2 to 18 years interact with a live canine during AAT sessions?
2. How do children with autism ages 2 to 18 years interact with a toy plush dog during AAT sessions?
3. Is there a difference in HAI in the live canine group and the toy plush dog group?
4. Is there a difference in prosocial behavior observed during AAT sessions between the live canine group and the toy plush dog group?
5. Is there a difference in behavior after AAT sessions between the live canine group and the toy plush dog group? Participants were randomly assigned to either the live canine or toy plush dog group. Adaptive functioning and social responsiveness evaluations were obtained to compare baseline behavior between the two groups. Participants attended an AAT session once weekly for 6 to 8 weeks. Each group received the same therapy provided by the therapist; the only difference being the incorporation of a live canine during the therapy session. Caregivers completed a weekly assessment depicting participants' positive and negative affect at the beginning of each session. Caregivers also completed a monthly assessment noting strengths and difficulties in social functioning and behavior at the start of the first, middle, and final session. AAT sessions were recorded and behavior occurring during the sessions was coded to note HAI and HAB that occurred during the sessions.

Enrollment: 9 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 3 to 21 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion and exclusion criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Clinical diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder, developmental delay, or behavioral concerns.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Fearful of canines
• Allergic to canines

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

---

9 participants in 2 patient groups

One group had a live canine incorporated into therapy sessions.

Experimental group

Description:

The therapist included a live therapy canine to interact with participants during therapy sessions for this group. The canine is trained to provide comfort and play games with participants. Participants received cognitive behavioral therapy, sensory integration therapy, and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy based upon their presenting needs. Sessions lasted between 30 to 60 minutes once weekly. Caregivers for younger participants were present throughout the session while caregivers for adolescent children were able to attend the entire session, watch the session from a different room, or stay in the lobby and meet with the therapist and participant for the last 10 minutes of therapy to review the session and therapeutic strategies to incorporate throughout the week to address deficits in emotional regulation and prosocial behavior. Sessions lasted 6 to 8 weeks, and participants could re-enroll if they desired to continue therapy to address identified concerns.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Animal-assisted therapy

One group had a toy plush dog incorporated into therapy sessions.

Experimental group

Description:

The therapist included a toy plush dog to interact with participants during therapy sessions for this group. Participants received cognitive behavioral therapy, sensory integration therapy, and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy based upon their presenting needs. Sessions lasted between 30 to 60 minutes once weekly. Caregivers for younger participants were present throughout the session while caregivers for adolescent children were able to attend the entire session, watch the session from a different room, or stay in the lobby and meet with the therapist and participant for the last 10 minutes of therapy to review the session and therapeutic strategies to incorporate throughout the week to address deficits in emotional regulation and prosocial behavior. Sessions lasted 6 to 8 weeks, and participants could re-enroll in the live canine group if they desired to continue therapy to address identified concerns.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Behavioral therapy