Robot therapy aids mental health in patients with hematological malignancy during hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in a protective isolation unit.

Yamada A, Akahane D, Takeuchi S, Miyata K, Sato T, Gotoh A

Scientific reports27 Feb 2024Cited by 7 (Europe PMC)

PMID38413634PMCIDPMC10899246DOI10.1038/s41598-024-54286-4PepBankPUB-38413634

Summary

Patients with hematological malignancy experience physical and psychological pain, such as a sense of isolation and confinement due to intensive chemotherapy in a protective isolation unit (PIU). We examined whether the intervention of a robotic puppy, aibo (manufactured by Sony), could improve patients' mental health as an alternative therapy for pet therapy, which is not feasible in PIU. This study included 21 patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) (n = 16) or autologous HSCT (n = 5). The patients were randomly divided into the aibo and control groups. Psychological effects were regularly assessed by measuring the levels of salivary stress hormone chromogranin A (CgA), serum oxytocin, and serum cortisol and the quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology Self-Report (QIDS-SR) scores. The aibo group demonstrated a significant decrease in CgA level, while the control group showed the opposite trend. In addition, changes in serum oxytocin and cortisol levels indicated that aibo helped reduce stress. There was no significant difference in the QIDS-SR scores between the two groups; however, the psychomotor activity in the aibo group improved significantly. These findings suggest that aibo intervention during a stay in a PIU can improve the mental health of patients with hematological malignancies who have undergone HSCT.

CC BYText from Europe PMC. Highlighted sentences are the source of results.

Results from this study1

No result from this study comes from a test of the peptide.

Natural levels measured1

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01HumanEndogenous levelRandomized controlled trialOther
In patients undergoing stem cell transplantation in a protective isolation unit, aibo robot therapy was followed by changes in serum oxytocin and cortisol levels that the authors read as reduced stress.
In plain wordsIn isolated patients, the robot puppy was linked to changes in the body's own oxytocin and cortisol levels, read as less stress.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
Direction not reportedSerum oxytocin level change
Study
n = 21
Comparator
Control group (no robot)
Outcome group
Endogenous peptide levels · Mental health and mood
Source sentences
Summary
changes in serum oxytocin and cortisol levels indicated that aibo helped reduce stress.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
This study included 21 patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) (n = 16) or autologous HSCT (n = 5).
Summary · context
Psychological effects were regularly assessed by measuring the levels of salivary stress hormone chromogranin A (CgA), serum oxytocin, and serum cortisol and the quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology Self-Report (QIDS-SR) scores.
This result measures the body's own Oxytocin. Nobody was given the peptide. It is not evidence about taking it.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3841363401

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Version history

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Version 2Current
11 Oct 2026, 00:50 UTC
Study results updated
Version 1
9 Oct 2026, 02:48 UTC
First added · source update from Europe PMC

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