Animal-assisted Therapy Interventions Research Articles

Rehabilitation Treatment Motivation Increased after Animal-assisted Therapy Intervention：A Case Study

Rehabilitation Treatment Motivation Increased after Animal-assisted Therapy Intervention：A Case Study

Farm Animal-Assisted Therapy Using Farm Animals for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a developmental disorder that affects an individual's ability to communicate, create social relationships, and regulate sensory input and repetitive behaviors. An uncommon intervention used in ASD treatment is farm animal-assisted therapy (AAT). AAT interventions focus on the use of animals in adjunct to achieve goals and outcomes. Farm AAT is defined as the use of farm animals such as cows, sheep, goats, horses, and pigs in AAT interventions. There is a lack of evidence on the use of farm animals and their benefits within the scope of AAT and in recreational therapy. The purpose of this study was to provide evidence, from the perspective of parents, of the potential benefits of farm AAT as a recreational therapy intervention for individuals with ASD. Data collection using a semi-structured interview guide was conducted over the phone with parents who participated in family session programs at the study location. Five participants were selected who matched the inclusion criteria for this study. The findings from this study reported that there were increases in social behaviors, regulation of behaviors, and a sense of normalcy for the children. The findings from this study provide a foundation for future research related to farm AAT such as evidenced-based curriculums and practices. The data provide therapists and parents with an understanding of the potential benefits that are gained from participation in farm AAT interventions.

Animal-Assisted Therapy in palliative care: a scoping review.

Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) is increasingly recognized as beneficial in palliative care, aiming to enhance the well-being of terminally ill patients. Palliative care focuses on holistic support for physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs. AAT uses animal interactions to alleviate symptoms such as pain, anxiety, and depression, promoting social engagement and emotional comfort. This review assesses AAT's effectiveness in enhancing the quality of life for palliative care recipients. Synthesizing literature on AAT in palliative care, the review examines its impact on physical symptoms, emotional well-being, social interactions, and overall comfort. By analyzing diverse studies, it aims to elucidate AAT's therapeutic potential and identify research gaps. Scoping review. Searches in PubMed, ProQuest, Psychology Database, and Scopus identified relevant studies evaluating AAT interventions in palliative care. Data extraction focused on study characteristics, participant demographics, AAT interventions, and reported outcomes. Studies consistently report positive outcomes of AAT in palliative care, including reduced pain, anxiety, depression, and improved mood and well-being. AAT also enhances social interactions and emotional support, albeit with variations in study designs. AAT holds promise for improving quality of life in palliative care by addressing physical, emotional, and social needs. Future research should standardize methodologies, explore mechanisms of action, and optimize AAT integration into comprehensive palliative care strategies.

The Role of Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT) in Neurocognitive Disorder Group Interventions: Benefits for Participants and Care Partners

An emerging crisis of care exists in the United States in the treatment of aging adults with neurocognitive disorders (NCD). Families face great obstacles locating resources and finding appropriate caregiving options for their needs. Occupational therapy practitioners are well suited to assist both persons with NCD and their care partners through training and support services to promote safety and independence and maximize participation in activities of daily living. Occupational therapy practitioners increasingly employ Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) programs with tailored activities to foster problem-solving skills to enhance performance and behavior, improving quality of life. This feasibility study employed mixed-methodology to establish a proof of concept by offering a series of six 90-minute AAT group intervention sessions with persons with NCD and care partners at an Alzheimer’s Resource Center in Florida. While quantitative results were not significant, many promising qualitative themes emerged to direct future inquiry in AAT interventions with this population.

Human-Animal Bond Generated in a Brief Animal-Assisted Therapy Intervention in Adolescents with Mental Health Disorders.

The human-animal bond is crucial for the proper development of animal-assisted therapy (AAT) sessions. However, in specific cases such as in AAT focused on psychiatric patients who are admitted to acute units, there is only a short period of time available to establish this bond. To assess the degree of HAB generated after two AAT sessions in adolescents admitted to acute psychiatry units. A prospective multicenter cohort study aimed at adolescents aged 13 to 17 years admitted to the acute child and adolescent psychiatry unit of three hospitals. Two weekly 1 h group sessions of AAT with therapy dogs. The Center for the Study of Animal Wellness Pet Bonding Scale Survey (CSAWPB). One hundred and fourteen adolescents participated. A positive perception of the dog was generated, achieving a good level of bonding and attachment. The results obtained make it possible to affirm that a short period of time is enough to establish a good HAB between patients and therapy dogs. This study aims to contribute to the study of non-pharmacological interventions as a complement to pharmacological treatments in adolescents with mental health disorders.

A Correlational Study Exploring Nurse Work Anxiety and Animal-Assisted Therapy.

The aim of this study was to perform a correlational study to explore nurse work anxiety. Nurses experience work anxiety with chronic stressful situations, high-acuity assignments, and rigorous patient care standards. The purpose of this study was to determine whether animal-assisted therapy during active worked hours would reduce nurse work-related anxiety. Animal-assisted therapy interventions were performed for both day and night shifts. Beck's Anxiety Inventory (BAI) tool was used pre and post intervention. Each nurse interacted with the therapy dog for at least 10 minutes. Pet-assisted therapy as an intervention for nurses during work reduced work-related anxiety (t = 5.878, P < 0.05). A Pearson's correlational study displayed a strong positive correlation between the animal-assisted therapy and reduction in BAI scores (r = 0.7717, R2 = 0.5955). This prospective study has shown that nurse work anxiety significantly decreased during worked hours of active bedside care when the nurses actively engaged with a therapy dog.

Personal and Professional Perspectives on the Protective Role of Animals for Transgender Youth: A Qualitative Analysis

Abstract Youth who identify as transgender, gender non-conforming, or non-binary (TGNC) are at increased risk for mental health challenges including anxiety, depression, and suicidality; and social challenges including bullying, isolation, and lack of familial support. Best practices in promoting the social and emotional health of TGNC youth are continually evolving, and Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) presents a compelling yet untested approach to meeting mental health needs of this population; a group AAT intervention might help TGNC youth who feel isolated to feel more connected and supported. This exploratory study sought to identify thematic content to be included in a future AAT group intervention geared towards TGNC youth, considering both the potential role of human-animal interactions and the identified needs of this population. Three focus groups were convened; one comprised of TGNC adults (N = 8), one of mental health clinicians with advanced training related to transgender mental health (N = 4), and one of certified Animal Assisted Play Therapists® (N = 5). The content of each group was coded thematically using modified grounded theory, and several subthemes emerged under broader themes of 1) the importance of animals in providing emotional support in general and 2) desired social supports that might be beneficial for TGNC youth. These themes inform discussion of possible next steps in the development of an AAT group for TGNC youth.

Animal Assisted Therapy for Older Adults in Aged Care Facilities: A Rapid Review

Purpose: Research has demonstrated the effectiveness of animal assisted therapy (AAT) for improving the mental health of older adults in residential care. The aim of this rapid review was to synthesise existing research evidence to determine the approaches that AAT should take to enhance outcomes for older adults living in residential care. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted to identify studies published between 2009 and 2019 that investigated AAT and improvement in physical and/or psychosocial outcomes for adults aged over 65 years, living in residential care. Studies were critically appraised to determine methodological quality, key data were extracted, and a critical narrative synthesis was conducted to determine features of effective AAT intervention. Results: Eighteen studies were identified for inclusion in this review. All eligible studies utilised dogs for AAT. Nearly all studies found positive outcomes from the AAT; however, several features of AAT were associated with better outcomes. AAT was shown to be effective at improving depressive symptoms and socioemotional behaviours regardless of the frequencies, durations, and overall intervention periods employed. Participant quality of life only improved when AAT was conducted up to twice weekly. Physical interaction and combined physical interaction and walking were both associated with positive outcomes. The use of trained/certified therapy dogs was more likely to improve outcomes than using dogs with no reported training. Facilitators provided by AAT organisations, and facilitators with veterinary, nursing, or AAT training were associated with improved outcomes. Group AAT was associated with greater effectiveness than AAT conducted with individual participants. Studies where AAT was conducted in a combined indoor/outdoor or solely indoor setting appeared most likely to improve outcomes. Conclusion: AAT involving dogs was typically associated with positive outcomes for older adults living in residential care; however, some features of AAT were associated with better outcomes. To enhance outcomes, it is recommended that AAT be implemented in a group setting, include physical interaction or combined physical interaction, and walking, and be conducted by trained facilitators.

Occurrence of Pasteurella multocida in Dogs Being Trained for Animal-Assisted Therapy.

Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) is a non-pharmacological therapy aimed at people with physical and/or mental disabilities. Therefore, it is necessary to carry out interventions that guarantee its benefits for patients while also avoiding the risk of zoonoses due to contact with the animals or their mucous membranes. The present study aimed to detect the occurrence of Pasteurella multocida in the oral cavity of dogs attending a “dog educational centre” and training for AAT interventions. In addition, some of the potential predictable factors of infection (i.e., age, sex, breed, and living conditions) were analyzed. In total, 25/200 dogs examined (12.5%; 95% confidence interval = 8.4–18.1%) were positive for P. multocida, as confirmed by PCR. Sex, breed, and living conditions were risk factors associated with P. multocida as revealed by the logistic regression analysis. Specifically, cross-bred female dogs living prevalently outdoors were significantly associated with the presence of P. multocida (p < 0.05). This study represents the first epidemiological survey of the prevalence of P. multocida in the oral cavity of dogs involved subsequently in AAT interventions, highlighting the potential risk of P. multocida infection in patients, often belonging to risk categories (e.g., children, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals). Therefore, healthcare guidelines could be suggested to integrate the current literature related to the health check of dogs involved in AAT. In this way, it could be ensured that, even with bodily contact during AAT, the risk of pathogen transmission by the co-therapist dog can be avoided.

Animal-Assisted Therapy as a Non-Pharmacological Approach in Alzheimer's Disease: A Retrospective Study.

Simple SummaryNon-pharmacological approach represents a valid therapeutic option as an alternative or supplement to pharmacological treatments in patients with Alzheimer’s disease. A type of non-pharmacological therapy is animal-assisted therapy (AAT), where the dog is a valid support to improving the quality of life of patients. In patients with Alzheimer’s disease, interaction with animals can reduce behavioral, stress, and mood disorders, and it can also stimulate some cognitive functions and give benefits to the psychosocial sphere. The purpose of this study was to apply, over a long period of time (2012–2019), AAT interventions adapted to reality orientation therapy (ROT), in groups of patients with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer’s disease. The work aimed to stimulate neuro-cognitive functions such as spatio-temporal orientation, memory, the ability to calculate, and language and to improve the depressive state of patients through the interaction and carrying out of structured games with the dog. The results obtained in the present study show an improvement in both cognitive function and mood of patients who carried out the therapy with the dog. In conclusion, we can therefore affirm how the study conducted confirms the potential of animal-assisted therapy as a non-pharmacological therapy in the treatment of deficits deriving from Alzheimer’s disease patients.Recently, many efforts have been made to assess the effectiveness of non-pharmacological therapies as an alternative or supportive option to conventional approaches. Specifically, animal-assisted therapy (AAT) has recently raised a great interest and large research efforts. This work represents a retrospective study carried out over seven years (from 2012 to 2019) in 127 patients with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer’s disease. The patients were divided into three groups: an experimental group that received AAT interventions adapted to the formal reality orientation therapy (ROT), a group receiving a formal ROT, and a control group that did not perform any of the previous therapies. All sessions, for all patient groups, were held weekly for a total period of six months. The evaluation of cognitive function was performed through the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), while the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) assessed the depressive state. Test administration to all patients was performed before the start of the first session (T0) and after the last session (T1). The results obtained showed an improvement in the values in the GDS and MMSE tests. The variations between the average MMSE values between T1 and T0 were 0.94 ± 0.9 (SD), 0.15 ± 0.62, and −0.42 ± 0.45 in the AAT group, ROT group, and control (CTRL) group, respectively. The variations between the average GDS values between T1 and T0 were −1.12 ± 1.17 (SD), −0.42 ± 1.21, and 0.12 ± 0.66 in the AAT group, ROT group, and CTRL group, respectively. Based on our findings, we can therefore affirm how the study carried out confirms the potential of AAT performed by Federico II Model of Healthcare Zooanthropology, and particularly its efficacy in the treatment of cognitive deficits deriving from Alzheimer’s disease.

Impact of Animal Assisted Therapy on Anxiety Levels Among Mentally Ill Female Inmates

ABSTRACT There are now more women with serious mental illness treated in correctional facilities than in county or state hospitals in the United States. These women have high rates of relational trauma, resulting in post-traumatic stress and other anxiety disorders, at a higher rate those in the community. In addition, the prison setting serves as a trigger for anxiety symptoms. Existing treatment outcome studies primarily focus on male prisoners or interventions in community settings. Therefore, a need for gender-specific, trauma-informed interventions in prison settings exists. The current study is a single-case, repeated measures experimental design exploring the impact of an animal-assisted therapy intervention on levels of anxiety among women incarcerated in a prison mental health unit. The study demonstrates moderate to high effect sizes for women with significant pre-treatment anxiety.

Állatterápia hatása idősek distressz állapotára

Az állat-asszisztált terápiát (AAT), mint módszert Boris Levinson amerikai pszichológus dolgozta ki az 1960-as években. Kutatásunk célja megvizsgálni, hogy milyen különbségek vannak a distressz állapotban, állatbaráttal rendelkező, valamint állatbarát nélküli egyedül élő idősek között. Összesen 111 személy vett részt a kérdőíves felmérésben és 20 személy a kutatásban. Az időseket beavatkozás előtt-után egyénenként, objektív pszichológiai módszerekkel felmértük (DASS-Depresszió, Szorongás és Stressz Skálával), hogy képet kapjunk a beavatkozás sikeréről. Az eredmények alapján, feltételezésünk igaznak bizonyult, az állatterápiának van hatása az idősek distressz állapotára. Hatékonyan használható terápiás módszer, depresszió, szorongás és stressz kezelésére.

An Animal-Assisted Therapy Intervention with Female Inmates

ABSTRACTFor many years corrections facilities have used animals as rehabilitative or therapeutic tools. Using the Outcome Questionnaire 45.2 to measure change, this study employed an experimental design to measure the effects of an animal-assisted therapy group on symptom distress, interpersonal relationships, social role performance, and overall distress of incarcerated women living in the general prison population at the Utah State Prison. Data were gathered during pretest, posttest, and at 30-day follow-up. Participants were selected using randomized systematic sampling and randomly assigned to control or experimental groups. Both the experimental and control groups used the same curriculum. The experimental group had a dog present and the control group did not. Statistical analysis indicated significant improvement for all domains measured for participants in both groups. However, there was no difference in this improvement between groups, indicating that having a dog present during the group process did not influence the improvements. Recommendations for future research are discussed.

Animal-assisted therapy as a pain relief intervention for children

Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) is a healing modality involving a patient, an animal therapist, and handler with a goal of achieving a specified therapeutic outcome. Despite the myriad of studies documenting the benefits of AAT, no studies have yet determined the impact of animals on alleviation of pain in children. Therefore, a quasi-experimental intervention design was used to capture the change in pain and vital signs with (n=18) or without (n=39) AAT in children ages 3-17 in one acute care pediatric setting. The AAT intervention group experienced a significant reduction in pain level compared to the control group, t(55)=-2.86, p=.006. Although blood pressure and pulse were not impacted, respiratory rates became significantly higher in the AAT group (by an average of 2.22 breaths/min) as compared to the control group, t(55)=-2.63, p=.011. This study provides further support to the numerous health benefits of AAT, particularly for children in pain.

Effects of animal-assisted therapy on agitated behaviors and social interactions of older adults with dementia.

The effects of a therapeutic recreation intervention using animal-assisted therapy (AAT) on the agitated behaviors and social interactions of older adults with dementia were examined using the Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory and the Animal-Assisted Therapy Flow Sheet. In a pilot study, 15 nursing home residents with dementia participated in a daily AAT intervention for three weeks. Results showed statistically significant decreases in agitated behaviors and a statistically significant increase in social interaction pretest to post-test.