Effects of Animal-assisted Therapy on the Physical Function and Communication of Adults With Autism

Daniel Collado-Mateo

Status: Unknown

Conditions: Autism Spectrum Disorder; Autism

Treatments: Behavioral: dog-assisted therapy

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT04859998

AATinAutism

Details and patient eligibility

About

The aim is to evaluate the effects of a dog-assisted therapy program on physical function and communication in a sample comprised of 24 adults with autism spectrum disorder. The sample will be divided into 2 groups, a control group and an experimental group. Changes after 10 weeks (20 sessions) will be compared between-groups.

Full description

The intervention program will consist of 20 sessions conducted twice a week in the facilities of the collaborator associations. Each session will be conducted in groups of 3 participants and will last 30 minutes. It will include a welcome part, a main part (based on different activities and physical exercises with the dog) and a closing part to say goodbye to the dogs.

Physical function measures will be conducted before and after the completion of the study. The interaction and communication will be assessed during the sessions in the first, tenth and last ones.

Enrollment: 24 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 40+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Older than 40 years
• With autism spectrum disorder
• Able to walk autonomously, without help from other people.
• Able to climb and descent stairs autonomously, without help from other people.

Exclusion criteria

• Medical condition that contraindicates the proximity or contact with the animals with the animals on the part of the user.
• Allergy to dog epithelium.
• Phobias to dogs.
• History of aggression to animals.
• Users who do not submit a signed informed consent form.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Supportive Care

Allocation: Non-Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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24 participants in 2 patient groups

Control group

No Intervention group

Description:

Participants in this group will simply continue with their daily living and therapies. They will be assessed before and after the 10 week program but will not take part in it.

Experimental group

Experimental group

Description:

Participants in this group will take part in the 20 session dog-assisted therapy. This therapy will be added to their usual daily living and therapies. They will be assessed before and after the 10 week program.

Treatment:

Behavioral: dog-assisted therapy