Can Man's best friend boost mental health? new study says maybe.

NCT ID NCT05004298

Completed Symptom relief Sponsor: Fundació Institut de Recerca de l'Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026

Summary

This study tested a 10-session dog-assisted therapy program for 60 adults with severe mental illness. The goal was to see if spending time with trained therapy dogs could help participants build positive mental health behaviors like communication and socialization. Researchers measured changes using a standard questionnaire before and after the program.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: Animal Assisted Therapy (dog-assisted group sessions)
What this could lead to: If it works, this could provide a simple, enjoyable way to help people with mental illness improve social skills, communication, and overall well-being.
What could go wrong: This is a small, completed study with no control group, so results may not be definitive. Benefits may vary widely between individuals.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

mental disorder psychiatric disorder

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

MENTAL DISORDERS, SEVERE

Contacts and locations

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Locations

Hospital De la Santa Creu i Sant Pau

Barcelona, 08025, Spain

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