NCT05608551

Animal-assisted Trauma-focused Therapy for Children and Adolescents

Effects of a Psychotherapy Group Program for Children and Adolescents With Post-traumatic Stress Symptoms

• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 80 (estimated)
• Sponsor: University of Basel · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 9 Years – 17 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

The study aims to investigate how the inclusion of an animal into a trauma-focused group therapy program (TF-CBT) affects therapy motivation of children and adolescents suffering from post-traumatic stress. 80 children and adolescents aged 9 to 17 years are recruited for the study. Participants must have experienced at least one traumatic event leading to post-traumatic stress symptoms. Participants are randomly allocated to one of two groups: animal-assisted trauma-focused therapy (AA TF-CBT) or standard trauma-focused therapy (TF-CBT). Parallel to the groups the parents/guardians of the participating children and adolescents take part in three parent meetings. The results of the study help to gain insights into how the inclusion of animals in trauma-focused psychotherapy can contribute to children and adolescents attending therapy, being more motivated in therapy, and can successfully complete therapy.

Conditions

• Motivation
• Alliance, Therapeutic

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Animal-assisted trauma-focused therapy	Animal-assisted trauma-focused therapy (AA TF-CBT) is a specific form of trauma treatment, in which one or more animals are integrated into the therapy. AA TF-CBT follows a structured, standardized therapy manual.
BEHAVIORAL	Standard trauma-focused therapy	Standard trauma-focused therapy (AA TF-CBT) is a standardized trauma therapy following a structured manual.

Timeline

• Start date: 2022-10-01
• Primary completion: 2025-12-31
• Completion: 2028-07-31
• First posted: 2022-11-08
• Last updated: 2024-07-19

Locations

2 sites across 1 country: Switzerland