No registrations found.
ID
Source
Health condition
Autism Spectrum Disorder
Animal Assisted Therapy
Dogs
Stress
Sponsors and support
Open University: Prof. Dr. M. J. Enders-Slegers and Dr. T. Verheggen
Autismekenniscentrum: Dr. A. A. Spek
Intervention
Outcome measures
Primary outcome
Stress (self-reported, salivary measurements, heart rate variablity measurements)
Psychological distress (self reported)
Self-confidence (self reported)
Autistic traits (self reported)
Secondary outcome
Video analysis
Background summary
Adults with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often experience high psychological distress. In literature, two treatments are described where research has shown a reduction of comorbid symptoms in adults with ASD sush as anxiety and depression. For this reason, it is of great importance to develop new interventions and to examine the effectiveness of those interventions on reducing comorbid symptoms in adults with ASD.
The present exploratory study is conducted in adults with ASD. The study aims to provide insight into the effects of AAT.
The AAT intervention consists of ten, weekly one-on-one sessions in presence of a dog. The results of the AAT are compared with a randomized waiting list control condition. Participants in this study are randomized after the baseline measurement and equally distributed towards the AAT or waiting list control condition.
Study objective
Exploration of the effects of AAT in adults with an Autism Spectrum Disorder
(because this study has an explorative character, there is no hypothesis formulated)
Study design
Baseline
Post intervention (10 weeks)
Follow-up (20 weeks)
Intervention
The AAT program exists of ten weekly one-on-one sessions, with a duration of 60 minutes per session. The therapist follows a strict therapy protocol. The therapy dog that is present in the therapy sessions is a trained service dog from the Dutch foundation ‘Hulphond’. The therapy dogs are under supervision of a dog trainer and have regular veterinary check-ups. Participants work together with a therapydog on exercises under supervision of the therapist.
Inclusion criteria
A primary diagnosis within the autism spectrum is required for participation in the study. The participants must be diagnosed through, a semi-structured interview based on the DSM-V criteria and the ADI-R
Age between 18-60.
WAIS-IV score > 80.
Participants suffer from stress (PSS > 20), and overal psychological distress (SCL-90 > 133).
Exclusion criteria
Psychosis
High Suicide risk
Fear of dogs
Medicin that involves the ingredient cortison
Involving other treatment than AAT during the 20 weeks of research
Design
Recruitment
Followed up by the following (possibly more current) registration
No registrations found.
Other (possibly less up-to-date) registrations in this register
No registrations found.
In other registers
| Register | ID |
|---|---|
| NTR-new | NL4054 |
| NTR-old | NTR5938 |
| Other | CMO regio Arnhem-Nijmegen : 2014-292 |