Mystic Pets for Anxiety

Overseen By Man Yee Suen, MMedSc

Age: < 18

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Stanford University

Disqualifiers: Hearing impairment, Neurological condition, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 1

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores the effectiveness of the Mystic Pets software and hardware in helping children manage anxiety. It focuses on children who might benefit from this tech-based approach to coping with their feelings. Participants will be children aged 4 to 17 who speak English and do not have major neurological issues or conditions affecting their ability to use headsets. Families with children meeting these criteria might find this trial suitable. As an unphased trial, it offers families the opportunity to explore innovative technology that could assist their children in managing anxiety.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What prior data suggests that Mystic Pets software and hardware are safe for children?

Research has shown that complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) products, such as Mystic Pets, are usually considered low risk. However, they can still cause side effects. While most people use them without issues, some might experience unexpected reactions.

Although detailed safety information specifically for Mystic Pets is lacking, CAM products are generally low risk, suggesting it is likely safe for most people. Even low-risk treatments can have side effects, so staying informed is important. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Mystic Pets is unique because it offers an innovative approach to managing anxiety by incorporating interactions with specially trained animals. Unlike traditional treatments like medication and therapy, which can take time to show results and may come with side effects, Mystic Pets provides immediate, natural relief through human-animal bonding. Researchers are excited about this treatment because it taps into the calming effects of animal companionship, potentially offering a side-effect-free and enjoyable alternative to standard anxiety treatments.

What evidence suggests that Mystic Pets is effective for anxiety?

Research has shown that pet therapy can help reduce anxiety. For instance, 46% of children who spent time with therapy dogs experienced less anxiety, compared to only 23% in a group that did not. Animal-assisted therapy has also significantly lowered anxiety in children. In this trial, participants will use Mystic Pets, which employs similar concepts through software and hardware to provide these benefits. Although this method is newer, it is based on evidence that interacting with pets can help ease anxiety. ^{1 6 7 8 9}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for children experiencing anxiety who are patients at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital. Specific eligibility criteria have not been provided, so it's best to contact the study organizers for detailed information on who can participate.

Inclusion Criteria

I am between 4 and 18 years old.

Exclusion Criteria

Legal guardian not present to obtain consent

Child with facial abnormalities or injuries prohibiting use of headsets

My child has a hearing problem.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

1-2 weeks

Intervention

Participants use the Mystic Pets software and hardware to evaluate its feasibility and usability

1 day

1 visit (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants provide qualitative feedback and complete various usability and engagement scales

immediately after intervention

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Mystic Pets

Trial Overview The trial is testing 'Mystic Pets', a software and hardware solution designed to help with anxiety in pediatric patients. The study will assess how practical and useful this technology is in a hospital setting.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Mystics Pets group Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Stanford University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

2,527

Recruited

17,430,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

A review of 64,493 adverse reaction reports to the Swedish Medical Products Agency from 1987 to 2006 identified 778 reports related to complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) products, highlighting that these products can cause significant adverse reactions, including serious ones like pulmonary embolism and anaphylaxis.

The most commonly reported CAM substances associated with adverse reactions included Echinacea purpurea and Ginkgo biloba, indicating that while CAM products are popular, they carry risks that warrant further investigation and monitoring.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Spontaneously reported adverse reactions in association with complementary and alternative medicine substances in Sweden. Jacobsson, I., Jönsson, AK., Gerdén, B., et al.[2009]

Many consumers mistakenly believe that complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) products are inherently safe, which raises concerns about potential interactions with pharmaceutical drugs, especially as their simultaneous use increases among Australians.

While adverse reactions to CAM products are generally low, there is a need for more systematic research to accurately define the risks associated with CAM, as current evidence suggests that most products do not pose a high risk but require further investigation to understand their impact on public health.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The other side of the coin: safety of complementary and alternative medicine. Myers, SP., Cheras, PA.[2004]

A study analyzing 489 kratom-related adverse drug reactions (ADRs) reported to the FDA from 2004 to 2021 found that kratom use is associated with significant safety concerns, including a 63-fold higher than expected rate of accidental deaths.

The analysis revealed strong signals for addiction and withdrawal symptoms, as well as a notable number of reports related to toxicity and seizures, indicating that while kratom is popular for treating pain and anxiety, it poses potential health risks.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

An evaluation of adverse drug reactions and outcomes attributed to kratom in the US Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System from January 2004 through September 2021. Li, X., Ndungu, P., Taneja, SB., et al.[2023]

The study developed a flowchart to classify adverse events (AEs) reported for veterinary products, analyzing 531 reports and identifying 20 types of AEs and 88 product-AE combinations.

Using three different signal detection models, the research found seven significant signals across all methods, demonstrating that combining multiple detection techniques improves the effectiveness of pharmacovigilance in monitoring veterinary product safety.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Adverse event classification and signal detection of data from the customer service and pharmacovigilance of a multinational veterinary pharmaceutical company. Marcon, DS., Queiroz, MR., Baquero, OS.[2022]

Citations

1. withpower.com withpower.com/trial/mystic-pets-for-anxiety-dfbc3

Mystic Pets for Anxiety · Info for Participants Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) products, like Mystic Pets, are generally considered low risk, but they can still cause adverse reactions.

2. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12438637/

The Effect Of Pet Therapy On Anxiety In Anxiety Disorders The findings suggest that pet therapy not only reduces anxiety levels, but also increases social communication, reduces feelings of loneliness and improves ...

3. research.wayne.edu research.wayne.edu/news/therapy-dogs-reduce-child-anxiety-and-need-for-anxiety-medication-in-er-wsu-researcher-finds-65722

Therapy dogs reduce child anxiety and need for ... Forty-six percent of children in the therapy dog group saw a decrease in anxiety scores compared to 23% in the control group. In addition, 55% ...

4. habri.org habri.org/pressroom/20250314/

Therapy Dogs Reduce Child Anxiety and Need for ... We found that implementation of therapy dog visits has the potential to reduce fear and anxiety in children and their parents and improve their overall ...

5. mdpi.com mdpi.com/2077-0383/14/1/287

Effects of Animal-Assisted Therapy for Anxiety Reduction in ... While both interventions were effective in reducing children's state anxiety, the pet therapy intervention resulted in significantly lower anxiety levels ...

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4086777/

Safety and Efficacy of Lysergic Acid Diethylamide-Assisted ... A double-blind, randomized, active placebo-controlled pilot study was conducted to examine safety and efficacy of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD)-assisted ...

7. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0149763425002040

The effect of psychedelic microdosing on animal behavior Overall, microdosing caused little changes in behaviors associated with anxiety- and depressive-like states. Moreover, while microdosing was well-tolerated ...

8. ryanspet.com ryanspet.com/site/pdf/CCMEC.pdf?srsltid=AfmBOoqRwuvSeng1W4Zlk02AdnUq53-_NOs15iLh7jY0UQ4R02Yto9dU

SAFETY DATA SHEET This chemical does not meet the hazardous criteria set forth by the 2012 OSHA Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR. 1910.1200).

9. journals.plos.org journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0221988

Friends with malefit. The effects of keeping dogs and cats ... Our data also confirmed that infection by the cat parasite Toxoplasma had a very strong negative effect on quality of life, especially on mental health.