Between Paws and Affections: Impact of Dog Assisted Therapy on Pain, Emotional Symptoms, and Functioning in Fibromyalgia
Status: Recruiting
Location: See location...
Intervention Type: Behavioral
Study Type: Interventional
Study Phase: Not Applicable
SUMMARY
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness and medium-term maintenance of a structured dog-assisted therapy (DAT) protocol, Entre Patas e Afetos (Between Paws and Affections), in reducing pain, anxiety and depressive symptoms and in improving functional status and quality of life in Portuguese patients with fibromyalgia (FM) followed at ULS Alto Ave, with systematic outcome assessment in the immediate post intervention phase (T2), 6-month follow-up (T3) and 12-month follow-up (T4).
Eligibility
Participation Requirements
Sex: All
Minimum Age: 18
Healthy Volunteers: f
View:
• Age 18 years or older
• Confirmed diagnosis of fibromyalgia
• Being followed at ULS Alto Ave by the Multidisciplinary Pain Unit, Internal Medicine (Auto immune diseases), Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine or Neurology
• Ability to read and write Portuguese and to understand the study procedures
• Willingness and ability to participate voluntarily in the 10 session program and all scheduled assessments (T1-T4)
Experimental: Behavioral: Dog Assisted Therapy (DAT - Between Paws and Affections)
Intervention group that will receive a total of 10 group sessions at the Psychiatry Day Hospital of ULS Alto Ave, organized into 4 weekly structured sessions (combining psychoeducation on fibromyalgia and chronic pain, functional training and self care, lifestyle counseling and guided relaxation, all mediated by trained therapy dogs and a professional dog handler), followed by 6 monthly guided relaxation booster sessions with the dogs.
Active_comparator: Behavioral: Psychoeducation and Relaxation without Dogs (Control)
New active control group that will receive the same 10-session program, with structure, duration, and content identical to the DAT arm (4 weekly structured psychoeducation and functional/self-care sessions plus 6 monthly guided relaxation booster sessions), but delivered entirely without dogs.