Zhou XC, Qu JC. Potential mechanisms and research progress of animal-assisted interventions for autism spectrum disorder. World J Psychiatry 2026; 16(11): 124210 [DOI: 10.5498/wjp.124210]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Jia-Chen Qu, PhD, Researcher, Department of Critical Care Medicine, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, No. 169 East Lake Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan 430071, Hubei Province, China. qujc_doc@163.com
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Psychiatry
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review-article
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Zhou XC, Qu JC. Potential mechanisms and research progress of animal-assisted interventions for autism spectrum disorder. World J Psychiatry 2026; 16(11): 124210 [DOI: 10.5498/wjp.124210]
World J Psychiatry. Nov 19, 2026; 16(11): 124210 Published online Nov 19, 2026. doi: 10.5498/wjp.124210
Potential mechanisms and research progress of animal-assisted interventions for autism spectrum disorder
Xin-Chu Zhou, Jia-Chen Qu
Xin-Chu Zhou, Institute of Physical Education, Wuchang Institute of Technology, Wuhan 430065, Hubei Province, China
Jia-Chen Qu, Department of Critical Care Medicine, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, Hubei Province, China
Author contributions: Zhou XC conceived this study and drafted the initial version; Qu JC contributed to the writing of the framework for the potential mechanisms. All authors reviewed and approved the final manuscript.
AI contribution statement: Grammarly and DeepL were used only for language polishing, grammar correction, and English expression refinement during manuscript preparation. The main text content was independently written by us, and no AI was used in study design. All figures and tables were created by ourselves.
Supported by 2025 Provincial Teaching Reform Research Project of Undergraduate Universities in Hubei Province, No. 2025513.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
Corresponding author: Jia-Chen Qu, PhD, Researcher, Department of Critical Care Medicine, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, No. 169 East Lake Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan 430071, Hubei Province, China. qujc_doc@163.com
Received: June 9, 2026 Revised: July 23, 2026 Accepted: August 31, 2026 Published online: November 19, 2026 Processing time: 142 Days and 16.2 Hours
Core Tip
Core Tip: This review evaluates clinical evidence and mechanisms of animal-assisted intervention (AAI) for autism spectrum disorder. Clinically, dog- or equine-assisted interventions improve symptoms and comorbidities, but efficacy is highly heterogeneous with variable effect sizes, and several high-quality studies demonstrate no significant benefit, indicating low-quality evidence. Mechanistically, AAI regulates hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, oxytocin, social brain networks, autonomic function, and sensorimotor integration. However, direct evidence is limited to neuroendocrine responses, heart rate variability, and electroencephalographic changes; synaptic plasticity, immune regulation, and mitochondrial metabolism remain theoretical. Optimal mechanisms differ by subgroup, highlighting stratification by age, cognition, and sensory characteristics. Methodologically, animal stress is a confounder affecting interaction quality. Future trials are supposed to include animal stress as a covariate and establish stratified frameworks for standardized, evidence-based AAI practice.
