NCT06248710

Dog Presence and Oxytocin on Trust Towards Therapists

Effects of Intranasal Oxytocin on Trust Towards Therapists and Dogs: A Randomized Controlled Trial in Healthy Adults

• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: Phase 2 / Phase 3
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 176 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Dr. Karin Hediger · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

Oxytocin has been proposed as a neuroendocrine mechanism that may mediate the relationship between dog ownership and positive health outcomes and be linked to human-dog interactions and is thought to be a mechanism of interspecies bonding. While the role of oxytocin in human bonding behaviours and social behaviour, in general, is becoming well-established the role of oxytocin in human-animal interaction and Animal-Assisted Interventions (AAI) remains unclear. This research gap calls for more high-quality research investigating this possible neuroendocrine underlying mechanism to advance knowledge about AAI. If oxytocin indeed might be involved in interspecies bonding, intranasally administered oxytocin should not only enhance trust toward a human but also towards a dog.

Conditions

• Depressive Symptoms
• Human-Animal Interaction

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DRUG	Oxytocin nasal spray	Syntocinon nose spray is usually applied in the context of labour and breast feeding. In this study, however, it will be used to induce an oxytocin (OT) release. Participants will apply three sprays in each nostril which will result in a dose of 24 I.U of oxytocin per participant
OTHER	Animal-Assisted Intervention	The dogs involved in the study are trained and used to work with different people in animal-assisted interventions. The dog will be familiarized with the room and the material as well as the staff of the study. The dog will be specifically trained for this study. The dog will be involved for a maximum of 3 sessions per day (approx. 20 minutes in total) and 2 days per week.
DRUG	Placebo	The placebo nose spray contains a saltwater solution and will be applied like the Syntocinon nose spray containing oxytocin.

Timeline

• Start date: 2024-01-29
• Primary completion: 2024-12-31
• Completion: 2024-12-31
• First posted: 2024-02-08
• Last updated: 2024-11-05

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Switzerland