RECRUITING

Feasibility of a Dog Training Therapy Program in UC Outpatient Youth Receiving Psychiatric Services

Study Overview

This clinical trial focuses on testing the efficacy of different digital interventions to promote re-engagement in cancer-related long-term follow-up care for adolescent and young adult (AYA) survivors of childhood cancer.

Description

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 Lawrence Hall, a Chicago-based residential treatment center for maltreated youth. In this study, the investigators test the feasibility, acceptability, and short-term efficacy of expanding the program to a group of youth currently in outpatient treatment for social, emotional, and behavioral problems. 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.

Official Title

Evaluating the Impact of a Canine-assisted Therapy Program in Youth Enrolled in Outpatient Treatment for Social, Emotional, and Behavioral Problems.

Quick Facts

Study Start:2024-02-26
Study Completion:2025-08
Study Type:Not specified
Phase:Not Applicable
Enrollment:Not specified
Status:RECRUITING

Study ID

NCT05788783

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Ages Eligible for Study:8 Years to 17 Years
Sexes Eligible for Study:ALL
Accepts Healthy Volunteers:No
Standard Ages:CHILD
Inclusion CriteriaExclusion Criteria
  1. * Currently receiving outpatient mental health services in the Department of Psychiatry \& Behavioral Neuroscience or are receiving general pediatric services from the University of Chicago Medical Center
  2. * Available for scheduling during the entire 6-week intervention program
  3. * Interest in participating in the program
  1. * Severe cognitive, psychiatric, or physical condition or limitation that would prevent participation.
  2. * Severe animal allergy
  3. * Animal phobia
  4. * History of mistreatment of animals.
  5. * Above-average scores on both measures of behavioral regulation and emotional regulation
  6. * WASI t-score of intellectual ability \< 60.

Contacts and Locations

Study Contact

Kristen Jacobson, PhD
CONTACT
773-834-0265
kjacobso@bsd.uchicago.edu
Jennifer A Ponting
CONTACT
773-702-8669
io-ura@uchicago.edu

Study Locations (Sites)

University of Chicago
Chicago, Illinois, 60637
United States

Collaborators and Investigators

Sponsor: University of Chicago

Study Record Dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Registration Dates

Study Start Date2024-02-26
Study Completion Date2025-08

Study Record Updates

Study Start Date2024-02-26
Study Completion Date2025-08

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

  • Emotion Regulation
  • Behavioral Disorder
  • Self Esteem