Long-term Sustainability of the Effects of Dog-Assisted Therapy in Children and Adolescents With Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: a 12-month Longitudinal Study

This study looks at whether dog-assisted therapy helps children and adolescents with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder improve social skills, behavior, quality of life, and emotional well-being, and whether these benefits last over time. It is also aimed at assessing caregivers' emotional well-being. Participants will already have completed the therapy, and the study will follow them at different time points to see if the changes remain months later. Families and health care providers should know that the evaluation uses standard questionnaires and clinical ratings, with no new invasive procedures, and the main goal is to better understand which children and families benefit most and how to make this type of therapy more effective in routine care.

inclusion Criteria:all participants needed to have stable doses of medication for at least two months before the study and agree not to seek out any other psychiatric or psychological treatment during the study. \- Exclusion Criteria:Patients who were not behaviorally stable, presented agressive behavior or required more intensive treatment (hospitalization or day hospital) were excluded. \-