Assessing Mechanisms of Anxiety Reduction in Animal-assisted Interventions
Completed · Not applicable
Conditions studied: Social Anxiety Disorder, Social Anxiety, Social Anxiety Disorder of Childhood
In brief
Adolescence and young adulthood is a critical period for the development of social anxiety, which is often linked to other mental health challenges such as depression, mood disorders, and substance abuse. Initial evidence suggests that interacting with animals can reduce stress and anxiety, but no research has tested whether this benefit extends to adolescents at risk for social anxiety disorder. Additionally, researchers and clinicians do not understand what mechanism is responsible for anxiety reduction in animal-assisted interventions (AAIs). Therefore, the objectives of this study are to explore the specific mechanisms by which interacting with a therapy dog reduces anxiety, and to test whether such an interaction reduces anxiety in adolescents with varying levels of social anxiety.
Key facts
- Study ID
- NCT03249116
- Run by
- Tufts University
- People needed
- 75
- Starts
- 2017-10-01
- Expected to finish
- 2019-09-01
- Last updated by the study team
- 2020-10-08
Who can join
Age: 13 and older, up to 17. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.
You may qualify if…
- Low, mid-range, and high levels of social anxiety
You may not qualify if…
- Fear of dogs
- Allergy to dogs
Where it is running
- Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University — North Grafton, Massachusetts, United States
Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov
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