How effective is the involvement of therapy dogs in psychological treatment for adolescent depression recovery?

How Effective is the Involvement of Therapy Dogs in Psychological Treatment for Adolescent Depression Recovery? Author First M. Last Institutional Affiliation(s) Course Number: Course Name Abstract This research aims to investigate the wellness impact of ‘Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT)’ using trained therapeutic dogs to treat ‘Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)’ in Chinese adolescents. The scholarly literature confirms that MDD is a rising condition in adolescents due to social impairments and poor lifestyle choices. Children hesitate to physically interact with friends, family members, and acquaintances due to lifestyle malpractices, such as extensive social media presence and past traumas. As a result, children experience loneliness, fear, and lack of emotional control, disrupting the social paradoxes in the long run. The EBP exploration suggests that AAT could assist children in coping with chronic MDD conditions, anxiety, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) syndrome. AAT increases the subject’s engagement in the intervention plan compared to traditional therapeutic practices like ‘Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)’ and ‘Interpersonal Therapy (IPT).’ The research design is experimental and quantitative to measure the relationship between the AAT-based intervention plan and six-month MDD recovery. However, the research design has ethical and practical limitations. To mitigate ethical constraints, the researcher would ensure transparency, informed consent, and environmental safety. This research will address generalizability and validity issues practitioners experience while opting for AAT intervention in cognitive care plans. Keywords: Adolescent Depression, Major Depressive Disorder, Animal Assisted Therapy How Effective is the Involvement of Therapy Dogs in Psychological Treatment for Adolescent Depression Recovery? Adolescent depression is a rising challenge for Chinese households, healthcare institutions, and the government. According to Dong et al. (2020), improvements in adolescent cognitive conditions are fundamental objectives of ‘Healthy China 2030 (HC2030).’ The authors argued that Chinese adolescents experience diverse mental conditions like depression, anxiety, and chronic stress. Cognitive impairments in Chinese adolescents influenced the mortality rate for three decades (Dong et al., 2020). Zhou et al. (2024) argued that depression is a robust mental condition that disrupts quality lifestyle and psychological wellness in the Chinese youth population. As a result, the healthcare system requires contemporary solutions and interventions to assist Chinese adolescents in coping with depression. Interventions like ‘Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT)’ could allow practitioners and caregivers to help children combat depression (Trujillo et al., 2019). This proposal aims to explore the involvement of therapy dogs in AAT interventions to help adolescents recovering from chronic depression. Literature Review Adolescents with Depression: Symptoms and Complexities Adolescent depression is a significant challenge in the modern health sciences. According to Stockdale and Coyne (2020), lifestyle transformations increase adolescent depression due to socioeconomic and sociocultural malfunctions. As evidence, the authors argued that Generation Z (Gen-Z) children fulfill social needs through virtual reality (VR) and social media platforms. Extensive digital presence and fantasized lifestyle exposures increase severe cognitive impairments like ‘Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)’ in children (Stockdale & Coyne, 2020). Achterbergh et al. (2020) aligned findings with Stockdale and Coyne (2020), explaining that children with extensive online presence and screen time enter loneliness and lack self-fulfilment. Irrational and disrupted social exchanges trigger MDD conditions among adolescents due to social paradoxes and disconnection from reality (Achterbergh et al., 2020). Grossberg and Rice (2023) argued that chronic MDD conditions increase suicidal behavior in adolescents. Children develop an addiction to social media content to measure lifestyle quality through innumerable posts. Continuous engagement increases dissatisfaction and triggers social unfulfillment, resulting in MDD and suicidal tendencies (Grossberg & Rice, 2023). Nonetheless, Oosterhoff et al. (2020) argued that the COVID-19 outbreak increased social media addictions among adolescents during lockdowns. Children consumed significant content, fantasizing about lifestyle choices, relationships, and social needs. As a result, Gen-Z develops social disruptions, transforming into chronic MDD and other cognitive impairments (Oosterhoff et al., 2020). Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT): Physiological and Psychological Mechanisms in Abnormal Psychology AAT is a progressive intervention in abnormal psychology, allowing practitioners to use specialized and trained animals to offer therapeutic assistance to patients. Trained animals provide emotional, cognitive, and social therapies under the supervision of a licensed practitioner (Souter & Miller, 2007). Animals like dogs receive training to understand diverse social and mental needs, offering tailored therapies through casual interactions and assisting patients to cope with chronic MDD and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) conditions (Glintborg & Hansen, 2017). Evidence-based practice (EBP) and scholarly findings argue that AAT has physiological and psychological mechanisms to support adolescents in coping with MDD. For instance, Correale et al. (2022) claimed that using therapy dogs in AAT interventions allows children to overcome depression, anxiety, and emotional distress. The authors discussed the physiological mechanisms, explaining that AAT reduces cortisol and releases oxytocin in children to cope with MDD. Cortisol is a stress hormone, while oxytocin is a bonding hormone. Using therapy dogs adjust the hormonal balances to overcome cognitive impairment through AAT interventions (Correale et al., 2022). Guzman et al. (2022) explained the AAT’s psychological mechanisms in adolescents fighting MDD. The authors argued that using therapy dogs in AAT interventions assists practitioners in injecting emotional regulation and provides social facilitation for resilience while reducing loneliness. Therapy Dogs as AAT-Based Interventions: Reducing Depressive Symptoms in Adolescents Research findings in Correale et al. (2022) and Guzman et al. (2022) discuss the physiological and psychological mechanisms of AAT interventions to cure MDD in adolescents. However, Zimolag and Krupa (2009) adopted a holistic approach while explaining the relevance of pet ownership for MDD patients, particularly children. The findings suggest that pet owners do not experience loneliness or social helplessness, two significant factors of MDD conditions in children. Pets are social companions for people, fostering relationships, ownership, and social support to overcome challenges (Zimolag & Krupa, 2009). Using therapy dogs in AAT intervention allows practitioners to expand emotional expressions and increase cognitive resilience. The outcomes enable adolescents to cope with loneliness, meaningless factors, and social impairments to overcome MDD. Therapy dogs engage adolescents in physical activities through playful characteristics to strengthen self-efficacy and emotional confidence in adolescents (Zimolag & Krupa, 2009). Furthermore, Thapar et al. (2022) argued that adolescent depression influences lifestyle quality. Children suffering from MDD experience insomnia, lack of disciplined routine, and emotional impairments. As a result, suicidal tendencies in children are raising anxiety, depression, and PTSD as a coping mechanism (Kalin, 2021). Hence, Zimolag and Krupa (2009) argued that therapy dogs allow children to release healthy hormones to cope with uncontrolled emotions and improve social responses. Children embrace positive lifestyle activities through a playful environment and develop discipline during the AAT intervention timeline to overcome MDD constructively (Zimolag & Krupa, 2009). Hence, AAT indicates qualitative relevance to cope adolescents with MDD and other cognitive diseases. Comparing Efficiencies for Adolescents: AAT vs. Traditional Therapies Traditional therapeutic interventions have similar objectives for practitioners treating MDD conditions in adolescents. As evidence, Allen et al. (2021) argued that ‘...