Abstract
Few studies have explored the influence of an Animal-Assisted Intervention on patients with mental disorders. We investigated it’s impact on anxiety symptoms. We divided 51 patients with anxiety symptoms into two groups—treatment group, that went for a short 15–20 min’ walk with a dog, his handler and a researcher and control group, that went for a walk only with a researcher. We used State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) of fear, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Ford Insomnia Response to Stress (FIRST), Brief symptom Inventory (BSI) and VAS of satisfaction after trial to assess. We also checked the resting blood pressure and resting heart rate before and after performing psychological tests while sitting. We have obtained full data of 21 people from the research group and 26 people from the control group. After the intervention, the treatment group reported lower anxiety levels as a state (Mean (M) = 34.35; Standard Deviation (SD) = 6.9 vs. M = 40.94; SD = 8.6) and fear (M = 1.05; SD = 1.0 vs. M = 2.04; SD = 2.2) than the control group. After a walk with a dog, trait anxiety (M = 34.35; SD = 6.9 vs. M = 46.3; SD = 9.6), state anxiety (M = 48.9; SD = 7.2 vs. M = 53.9; SD = 7.8), fear (M = 1.05; SD= 1.0 vs. M = 2.57; SD = 2.3) and resting heart rate (M = 71.05; SD = 12.3 vs. M = 73.67; SD = 13.1) decreased significantly, while walking without a dog only reduced state anxiety (M = 47.24; SD = 11.0 vs. M = 40.94; SD = 8.6). Multivariate analysis of variance showed that after the walk, state anxiety was significantly lower in the treatment group than in the control group, F(1.35) = 6.706, p <0.05, η2 = 0.161. Among those who walked with a dog, the intervention also led to significant decreases in fear and resting heart rate, F(1.44) = 11.694, p < 0.01, η2 = 0.210 and F(1.45) = 8.503; p < 0.01; η2 = 0.159, respectively. For anxious patients, a short walk with a dog is more beneficial than a walk without one. We found significant positive effects of a dog’s company on vegetative arousal and mental comfort. This is another study confirming the possible therapeutic effect of the animal on anxiety symptoms. Further research is required, especially in the large groups of patients, as recommendations on the use of Animal Assisted Interventions (AAI) are needed.
Highlights
Dogs are “man’s best friend”, this popular phrase largely reflects the increasing scientific knowledge of the interaction between the two species
We included to our study only patients with clinical diagnosis of anxiety or mixed depressive-anxiety disorders according to ICD10 (F40-F43.2)
The analysis of the results of the measures of skewness and kurtosis was carried out to determine whether they fall within the range from −1 to +1, which allows to confirm the normal distribution of the analyzed variables
Summary
Dogs are “man’s best friend”, this popular phrase largely reflects the increasing scientific knowledge of the interaction between the two species. Anthropology, archaeology and genetics provide ample evidence for a long-lasting, very close and mutually beneficial relationship between people and dogs. Medical sciences such as immunology or endocrinology found the possible positive influence of a dog’s presence on humans. One of the mental disorders most common are anxiety disorders, their annual prevalence in Europe is 14% [4] They entail emotional, somatic and cognitive symptoms, as well as behavioral disturbances, difficulties in everyday life especially in the social interactions. Anxiety disorders increase the risk of somatic diseases, e.g., cardiovascular diseases and deteriorate the quality of life [5,6]. The cause-and-effect relationships between anxiety disorders and somatic diseases are reciprocal [7], e.g., fear of surgical treatment may make it difficult or even impossible to properly treat many somatic diseases, and trigger anxiety disorders [8]
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