LH Canine Therapy Study
Trial statusRecruiting
Trial phaseNot applicable
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexAll
Age8-18
SponsorUniversity of Chicago
About this trial
The goal of this pilot project is to test for initial efficacy of the Recovery \& Care Canine-Assisted Therapy program that has been developed and implemented in youth institutionalized for behavioral and emotional problems. We are using two study sites, Lawrence Hall and Lydia Home, both Chicago-based residential treatment centers for youth with behavioral and emotional problems, many of whom have experienced child maltreatment and trauma. Comparisons will be made to a matched sample of youth from Lawrence Hall and Lydia Home receiving treatment as usual. Results from this project will provide preliminary evidence of whether a structured, goal-oriented intervention program focused on dog training activities has direct impact on increasing youth emotional self-regulation, impulse control, and self-efficacy, which are important targets for intervention among youth with mental health problems. If successful, this project could lead to a larger, randomized control clinical trials study that tests the longitudinal impact of the program that could further lead to national dissemination of the Recovery \& Care curriculum as an alternative therapeutic approach.
Eligibility criteria
This trial does not accept healthy volunteersQualifiers
Youth must be receiving in-patient services at Lawrence Hall or Lydia Home
Youth must provide informed assent.
Youth must complete at least one of the primary outcomes during the baseline assessment.
Youth must remain in residential care for the duration of the 6-week intervention.
Disqualifiers
Severe cognitive, psychiatric, or physical condition or limitation that would prevent participation.
Severe animal allergy
Animal phobia
History of mistreatment of animals.
Trial design
Design model
Parallel
Treatments tested in this trial
Recovery & Care Canine-Assisted Therapy
BehavioralActive intervention. An 6-week session of structured, goal-oriented activities where youth focus on mastering dog obedience and dog training skills. Each session is 1 hour and 15 minutes in length and includes education, review of prior sessions, and specific skill-building activities. Skill-building activities progress in complexity during the course of the 6-week curriculum.
Treatment as usual
Other interventionYouth in this condition receive treatment as usual from their health care providers
Treatment groups
48 Participants
are divided into 2 treatment groupsGroup A: Active interventionExperimental treatment 1 intervention
Group B: Waitlist controlOther 1 intervention
Trial outcomes
Primary outcomes
1
Emotional Stroop
Computer-Assisted task assessing affect regulation
Time frame
Up to 1-month post-intervention2
Change in Emotional Stroop
Computer-Assisted task assessing affect regulation
Time frame
Change from baseline to up to 1-month post-intervention3
Flanker Task
Computer-Assisted task assessing attention \& inhibitory control
Time frame
Up to 1-month post-intervention4
Change in Flanker Task
Computer-Assisted task assessing attention \& inhibitory control
Time frame
Change from baseline to up to 1-month post-interventionSecondary outcomes
1
Attendance and Attrition
Project staff will record the number of absences and drop-outs for youth enrolled in both study intervention conditions.
Time frame
Aggregated across the 6-week intervention program2
Change in Positive Affect
In addition to overall change in outcomes post intervention, we are also interested in whether each intervention session produces an immediate change in youth emotion. We will assess positive affect using 5 self-report items on current mood from positive and negative affect scale. Higher scores are better outcomes.
Time frame
Change from the beginning to the end of each of the 6 intervention session.3
Significant Event Report
Mandated reporting of disruptive behaviors (including offenses, aggression, running away, etc.) and disciplinary actions that occur during the course of the youth's placement at Lawrence Hall.
Time frame
Aggregated across the 6-week intervention program4
Change in Attitudes towards Pets
Pet-Attitudes Survey-Modified (PAS-M) is a validated, reliable 18-item instrument used to assess youth attitudes towards pets. The PAS-M will be used to determine whether the Recovery \& Care intervention improves attitudes towards pets and/or whether the intervention is effective for all youth. Higher scores indicate a more positive attitude.
Time frame
Change from baseline to up to 1-month post-interventionSponsors and contacts
Click on the lead sponsor to view all of their trials.
University of Chicago
Lead sponsor
Canine Therapy Corps
Collaborator
Source ClinicalTrials.gov