The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of AAT intervention in children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), in terms of improving functionality, ADHD-associated symptoms, attention and working memory. Participants were recruited from a community Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service and a Primary Health Care Center. These objectives were accomplished through a multicenter, randomized clinical trial, open-label, two-arm study of AAT for children with ADHD.
The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of Animal Assisted Therapy (with therapy dogs) in in children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The investigators conducted a multicenter, randomized, controlled, open-label, two-arm clinical trial. Thirty-six children aged 7-12 diagnosed with ADHD were randomized in two groups. Experimental group: 14 animal assisted therapy (AAT) psychoeducational sessions (once-a-week, 60 minutes) + treatment as usual and control group: treatment as usual. Participants were recruited from a community Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service and a Primary Health Care Center. The investigators evaluated changes on functionality, ADHD-associated symptoms, attention and working memory at pre-treatment and post-treatment. Assessment included intelligence test, ADHD symptoms referred by parents and teacher's (Conners Rating Scale), attention measures (Conners Continuous Performance Test (CPT-3) and children's functioning (Children's Global Assessment Scale (CGAS)).
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
36
A structured AAT program and usual treatment in Experimental group.
Centre Atenció Primària Bordeta-Magraners
Lleida, Spain
Salut Mental Infanto-Juvenil Sant Joan de Déu Terres de Lleida
Lleida, Spain
Change from baseline Children's Global Assessment Scale (CGAS) at 14 weeks.
It is a numerical scale to rate the overall functioning of young people under 18 years of age. Scores range from 1 to 100. A higher score indicates better functioning.
Time frame: This scale was administered at baseline and at week 14
Change from baseline Clinical Global Impression - Severity Scale (CGI-S) at 14 weeks
Is an instrument for measuring symptom severity of patients with mental disorders. Uses a single item on a Likert scale of seven values from 1= "Normal, not at all ill" to 7= "Among the most extremely ill patients".
Time frame: This scale was administered at baseline and at week 14
Change from baseline Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-IV) at 14 weeks.
This instrument measures intellectual ability of children from 6 to 16 years. It was developed to provide an overall measure of general cognitive ability, and measures of intellectual functioning in Verbal Comprehension, Perceptual Reasoning, Working Memory and Processing Speed. The full version of the WISC-IV has 15 subtests, only ten are considered core, and used more often when testing intelligence.
Time frame: This scale was administered at baseline and at week 14
Change from baseline Conners' Continuous Performance Test 3rd Edition (Conners CPT 3) at 14 weks
This test is a task-oriented computerized assessment of attention-related problems in individuals aged 8 years and older. By indexing the respondent's performance in areas of inattentiveness, impulsivity, sustained attention and vigilance.
Time frame: This test was administered at baseline and at week 14
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