Clinical Research Directory
Browse clinical research sites, groups, and studies.
Long-term Sustainability of the Effects of Dog-Assisted Therapy in Children and Adolescents With Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: a 12-month Longitudinal Study
Sponsor: Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron Research Institute
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.
Key Details
Gender
All
Age Range
6 Years - 18 Years
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
55
Start Date
2025-09-01
Completion Date
2026-09-01
Last Updated
2026-07-21
Healthy Volunteers
No
Interventions
Dog 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.
Locations (1)
Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Barcelona 08035
Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain