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Dog Presence and Oxytocin on Trust Towards Therapists

NCT06248710 · Status: RECRUITING · Phase: PHASE2/PHASE3 · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 176

Last updated 2024-11-05

No results posted yet for this study

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

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.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Dr. Karin Hediger

    lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2024-01-29
Primary Completion
2024-12-31
Completion
2024-12-31

Countries

  • Switzerland

Study Locations

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Entities

Drugs

Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT06248710 on ClinicalTrials.gov