Benefits Of Animal-assisted Therapy Research Articles

Animal-Assisted Therapy in Children Living with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Literature Review of Randomized Controlled Trials

Introduction: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a prevalent neurodevelopmental condition with significant impacts, and the benefits of animal-assisted therapy (AAT) in this population are unclear. This review aims to inform clinical decision-making and guide future research in AAT for children with ASD. Methods: We conducted a comprehensive search across PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, and ScienceDirect of randomized controlled trials of AAT in children with ASD, published until July 2023. Other inclusion criteria involved English-language articles and full-text availability. The selection process adhered to PRISMA 2020 guidelines, and the Cochrane Bias Assessment Tool was used for quality appraisal. Results: 45 studies were retrieved; six were included after removing duplicates and applying criteria. These studies included 300 children with ASD who received different AATs as an add-on therapy with a follow-up range of 7 to 16 weeks. Additional outcomes were measured with multiple scales. Overall, studies described that AAT has various benefits in this population, including improving cognitive, communication, and social skills, increasing adaptive behaviors, and reducing irritability and hyperactivity compared to control groups that did not receive AAT. The risk of bias measured with the Cochrane Bias Assessment Tool showed varied methodological quality among studies. Conclusion: Whether involving dogs or horses, AAT can improve overall quality of life, reduce autism-related behaviors, enhance communication and cognitive skills, promote social development, and mitigate anxiety. While encouraging, further research is imperative to strengthen the evidence base and assess the long-term effects of AAT in this population.

Pilot Study of Animal Assisted Therapy Provided in a Student Run Pro Bono Clinic

Background: Animal assisted therapy (AAT) is therapeutic intervention designed to help patients engage in meaningful life activities.1 Therapy dogs are used in healthcare settings to engage patients in motion, self-care, mental health, motivation, social responses, pain management, and fine motor skills.2 While there is research on the benefits of AAT with children and adults in inpatient settings, there is a lack of information on the benefits and satisfaction of AAT in student-run free clinics (SRFC).
 Methods: Occupational therapy (OT) students, volunteer clinicians, trained therapy dog teams, and patients receiving OT services at the Community Aid, Relief, Education & Support (CARES) SRFC participated in a pilot AAT program. All participants completed a specially designed survey via REDcap immediately following AAT sessions. Surveys focused on the patient’s pain and stress levels, benefits of AAT, and patient satisfaction.
 Results: Ten patients participated in the AAT pilot program alongside thirty-seven students and 4 therapy dog teams. 100% of patients responded therapy dogs helped them reach their goals, 93.8% of handlers and clinicians agreed the dog was a valuable addition to therapy sessions, and 100% of OT students agreed AAT is an important tool for therapists to use in clinical settings. 67.6% of patients reported a decrease in stress and 41.2% of patients who were experiencing pain reported a decrease in symptoms. Students, handlers, and clinicians reported benefits with AAT including range of motion (79.7%), fine motor skills (68.1%), and motivation (68.1%).
 Conclusion: AAT was successfully integrated into CARES SRFC based on feedback and data collected from participants. AAT had a visible impact on patients, students, handlers, and clinicians. Future research on the use of AAT in a SRFC should include a larger sample size and consider how to better define the specific impact of AAT on populations and conditions commonly seen in a SRFC.

Foster Puppies as Therapeutic Partners: A Model for Mutual Benefit

Abstract Ample research points to the positive impact of nonhuman animals on humans and the benefits of animal-assisted therapy (AAT) on patients in multiple settings. However, AAT is often a one-sided enterprise, whereby the focus of concern for benefit and growth is centered on the human, and less, or not at all, on the nonhuman animal. We present a model that emphasizes approximate equal benefit for human and nonhuman animals. A treatment approach is described that combines socialization and training of homeless dogs and puppies to increase adoption rates and assess for suitability as therapy or working dogs, with rehabilitating and supporting clients. This model of mutual benefit demonstrates prosocial behavior for clients who participate in the socialization and preparation of homeless puppies for permanent homes in combination with their existing therapeutic goals and is rich territory for symbolic exploration. A case study is presented as an illustration of the model.

Robotic animal-assisted therapy as a complementary therapy in clinical practice: Exploring animal-assisted intervention professional perspectives

Backgroundand Purpose: Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT) is a therapy that incorporates animals to improve the motor, social, behavioral, and/or cognitive functioning of participants. AAT has been shown to be a beneficial intervention for a wide range of populations. Although, researchers have suggested concerns in implementing AAT. The purpose of this study is to gain insight into the perspectives of therapists who incorporate AAT into their programs and to explore benefits and ethical considerations within the field of AAT. This study also aims to seek possible implications for robotic animal-assisted therapy (RAAT). Materials and methodsProfessionals from the Association of Animal-Assisted Intervention Professionals (AAAIP) were recruited, along with members from multiple AAT private and public Facebook groups. Participants completed an anonymous online semi-structured survey, exploring their experience with and perspectives on both AAT and RAAT. Fourteen participants' responses were analyzed using Dedoose software to identify common themes in the responses. ResultsThe results of this study provide various perspectives from professionals in different settings on the benefits of AAT, concerns about AAT, and the implication for the utilization of RAAT. The data indicated that most of the participants have not incorporated RAAT into practice. However, many of the participants believed that RAAT can be an alternative or preparatory intervention when interaction with live animals is not possible. The data collected further contributes to an emerging niche setting.

Stroking a Real Horse Versus Stroking a Toy Horse: Effects on the Frontopolar Area of the Human Brain

ABSTRACT The effects of animal-assisted therapy (AAT) on human cerebral activity are not clearly understood, although many studies have reported psychological and physiotherapeutic benefits associated with it. Any benefits of AAT are likely to be closely related to brain activity. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of stroking a horse on brain activity in humans, specifically the frontopolar area, to evaluate the significance of using real animals in AAT. In a randomized cross-over trial, 30 healthy adults saw and stroked a stuffed toy (Session T) followed by a miniature horse (Session A), or vice versa. Participants saw and stroked the object (the stuffed toy or the real animal) for 10 minutes, followed by seeing and stroking another object (the real animal or the stuffed toy) for 10 minutes, with 20 minutes for measurements and resting. We measured changes in oxygenated hemoglobin (oxy-Hb) in the frontopolar area using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). Three-way repeated measures ANOVA was used to compare oxy-Hb changes between the object used (stuffed toy versus real animal), contact method (see versus stroke), and laterality (left versus right). Oxy-Hb changes were larger in the right frontopolar area compared with those in the left frontopolar area when participants stroked a real horse (p < 0.05). Binominal tests showed that, in participants who reported that they “loved horses,” the laterality of oxy-Hb changes when participants stroked a real horse was significant (p = 0.031), but this was not seen in those who reported that they only “kind of liked” horses. These findings suggest that stroking a real horse activates the right frontopolar area, but this effect is not achieved when stroking a stuffed toy. Using horses in AAT that aims to activate human brain activity could be useful.

PMH1 ANIMAL ASSISTED THERAPY (AAT) IN DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

Over the last three decades, animal assisted therapy (AAT) has been proposed as an add-on treatment to concomitant pharmacotherapy/psychotherapy for the management of several mental health and neurological disorders. The benefits of AAT have been observed across a range of indications including patients with dementia, schizophrenia, and autism. The current systematic review (SR) was conducted to evaluate the use of AAT in patients with depression and/or anxiety. A search was conducted in MEDLINE, EMBASE and the Cochrane Library. Eligible studies included those enrolling patients with depression and/or anxiety at baseline who underwent AAT of any form and reported outcome on symptoms of depression and/or anxiety, particularly response or remission. Of the 937 publications screened, 12 met the inclusion criteria (5 randomised controlled trials [RCTs] and 7 observational studies). Various animals were employed as part of the AAT regimen, including dogs (7/12 studies); dogs and cats (1/12); horses (1/12); dolphins (1/12); and farm animals (such as cows, pigs and chickens [2/12]). Across the included studies, enrolled patient numbers ranged from 12 to 80 and study follow up from 15 minutes to 12 weeks. Four studies reported changes in symptoms of depression, five reported changes in depression and anxiety symptoms and three reported changes in anxiety symptoms. All studies reported an improvement in depression and/or anxiety symptoms following AAT. An improvement in symptoms of depression was reported in 8/9 studies (including 4 RCTs), reaching statistical significance in six studies. An improvement in symptoms of anxiety was reported in 8/8 studies (including 4 RCTs), reaching significance in four studies. This SR provides evidence that AAT can be beneficial as an additional therapy in the treatment of depression and/or anxiety disorders. Further comparative evidence and data from larger cohort studies with sufficient follow up are required to confirm these findings.

Animal-Assisted Therapy Supports Student Connectedness

Animal-assisted therapy is a complementary approach to supporting the well-balanced student. In particular, therapy dogs in school can have a direct impact on students' social interactions, class participation, and behavior, as well as strengthening feelings of connectedness in school-a protective factor against risk-taking behaviors. School nurses have the unique charge of acting as liaisons between optimal health and academic success, and they can serve an integral role in animal-assisted therapy programs at school. The benefits of animal-assisted therapy in elementary schools along with the role of the school nurse in the planning and success of the program are described.

Dog assisted therapy for teenagers with emotional and behavioural issues: A multicentre study

IntroductionFurther research is still needed to demonstrate the benefits of animal-assisted therapy (AAT) for specific participant profiles, such as children with behavioural disorders.ObjectivesWe wanted to find out if AAT could be considered an efficient therapeutic strategy for the treatment of children with behavioural disorders.AimsWe wanted to study the effects of a preestablished AAT program on the behaviour of children with emotional and behavioural issues in 6 different reception centres for children under government guardianship.MethodsForty-five children (12 to 17 years old) with emotional and behavioural issues participated in a 14-session AAT program. Behavioural measures were those routinely scored as part of therapy; an observational report of 3 different problematic behaviours (such as impulsivity, lack of social skills or lack of personal recognition) was made twice a week for each child (with a score of frequency and intensity). A pre- and post-treatment “global behaviour score” was calculated for each child, as an average value of the 3 problematic behaviours measured during the month pre-treatment and the month post-treatment.ResultsThe 45 participants attended, on average, 72.8% of AAT sessions. Independent behaviour scores differed between the pre- and post-intervention evaluations (n = 135 behaviours) (Wilcoxon test; P &lt; 0.0001). Based on the global behaviour score for each child (n = 45), significant change was found between pre- and post-intervention evaluations (Wilcoxon test; P = 0.0011).ConclusionsOur results suggest AAT could be a beneficial intervention for children with behavioural issues in terms of program adherence and behaviour improvement.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

The Potential of Animal-Assisted Therapy Within the Supervisory Alliance

ABSTRACTChandler identified eight generalized benefits of animal-assisted therapy (AAT) for a person’s growth. These beneficial areas include (a) motivation, (b) distress tolerance, (c) alternative form of nurturance, (d) physical soothing, (e) genuine acceptance, (f) interactional enjoyment, (g) increased trust, and (h) increased encouragement to overcome barriers. Homestead identified supervision ideals, skills, and barriers within the supervisory alliance. If supervision is negative, this experience may disrupt the supervision relationship, process, and requirements. If not properly addressed, potential harm may come to the supervisee, supervisor, and possibly the client’s welfare. This review will identify how these eight areas of AAT may benefit the supervisory alliance to ensure the best care for the supervisee, supervisor, and the client.

Therapy Dogs in the Emergency Department

IntroductionThis study examined acceptance by staff and patients of a therapy dog (TD) in the emergency department (ED).MethodsImmediately after TD visits to a University Hospital ED, all available ED staff, patients, and their visitors were invited to complete a survey.ResultsOf 125 “patient” and 105 staff responses, most were favorable. Ninety-three percent of patients and 95% of staff agreed that TDs should visit EDs; 87.8% of patients and 92% of staff approved of TDs for both adult and pediatric patients. Fewer than 5% of either patients or staff were afraid of the TDs. Fewer than 10% of patients and staff thought the TDs posed a sanitary risk or interfered with staff work.ConclusionBoth patients and staff approve of TDs in an ED. The benefits of animal-assisted therapy should be further explored in the ED setting.

Perceived benefits of animal-assisted therapy in the oncology waiting room

This study identified perceived benefits of animal-assisted therapy (AAT) on anxiety, pain, communication, and cognition among patients waiting for treatment in a large urban cancer center. A convenience sample of 75 patients and five family members (n = 80) waiting for treatment completed a survey about AAT. After giving informed consent, participants were asked to complete questions related to attitudes about offering a complementary therapy dog program in the hospital. Findings indicated that most respondents were very accepting of AAT in the cancer center, with 78 percent indicating that they would like to take part in this complementary therapy. The perceived benefits of AAT included that it would provide a method for positive communication (93 percent), cognitive stimulation (92.3 percent), it would help to pass time more quickly (88.8 percent), it would help people to feel more comfortable at the cancer center (84.8 percent), and it would reduce participants’ pain (71.3 percent) and anxiety (68.4 percent). The association between gender and anxiety produced a statistically meaningful result in this study about predicting subjects’ participation in the program. Ultimately, offering recreational therapy facilitated AAT in cancer center waiting areas may provide benefits for patients and provide a competitive edge to hospitals.

‘Queen of the world’: experiences of ‘at-risk’ young people participating in equine-assisted learning/therapy

There is a significant body of research into the benefits of animal-assisted therapy (AAT) but less into the fields known as equine-assisted learning and therapy (EAL/EAT) where horses are incorporated in therapeutic and learning interventions. This paper explores the experiences of seven ‘at-risk’ young people who participated in a therapeutic horsemanship (TH) programme. The study followed a practice-near approach seeking to capture the young people's experiences within a participative ethnography. Themes related to the risk and resilience literature such as self-confidence, self-esteem, self-efficacy and a sense of mastery, empathy and the opening of positive opportunities are explored in this paper.

Case studies of adults receiving horse-riding therapy

The purpose of this study was to examine the psychotherapeutic effect of riding therapy (RT) on a group of adult users of a social services mental health team in South Devon. The benefits of animal-assisted therapy (AAT) and pet ownership on human health and well-being are well documented. However, whilst research has been conducted on the benefits of hippotherapy (the employment of horse riding as a physiotherapeutic aid) little has been undertaken on the psychotherapeutic benefits of riding therapy. Through case studies, the current study sought to explore whether the participants benefited in terms of confidence, increased self-esteem and social/interaction skills. A further objective was to find out whether these benefits, if identified, were transferable to other areas of the riders' lives. The study was conducted utilizing a case study, participant observational methodology following the progress of six women with various mental health problems receiving RT on a weekly basis. The sessions comprised of learning to look after the horses and carrying out stable management tasks, in addition to the riding; the chief instructor was aware that an important factor of the RT was building up a relationship and trust with the horses on the ground. Methods employed to record the sessions, apart from participant observation, included interviews and questionnaires. The prime objective of the study was for the riders' experience of the therapy to be expressed in their own words. It was found that the participants benefited in areas ranging from increased confidence and self-concept, and that the therapy aided social stimulation and led to transferable skills being acquired.