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Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy: A Case Report --Animal-Assisted Therapy
Abstract
There are few quantitative studies on the benefits of animal-assisted therapy (AAT). Information about this modality consists mainly of anecdotal statements, testimonials, and case reports. However, recent research has demonstrated that the use of therapy dogs, integrated with more traditional forms of therapy, can improve therapeutic results. This case report describes the treatment of a 10-year-old girl with posttraumatic stress disorder and a history of physical and sexual abuse. AAT was used as part of a broader cognitive-behavioral therapy intervention. The patient's behavior during therapy sessions was observed before and after the introduction of the therapy dog. There was a dramatic change in behavior and a subsequent report from her foster mother that behavior in the home improved.
... When CBT is used to address CSA symptoms, it is sometimes focused differently and can be termed Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF CBT). Other treatments have also been suggested as being effective, and these include eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), play therapy, art therapy, and pet therapy, and there is some evidence for each of these approaches improving symptoms related to CSA (Deblinger et al., 2001;Eggiman, 2006;Jaberghaderi et al., 2004;Cohen et al., 2005;Pifalo, 2006). In addition to individual therapy, a variety of group therapies have also been reported as being effective in reducing CSA symptomatology (Kruczek & Vitanza, 1999). ...
... It has been suggested that the presence of an animal contributes to a positive, friendly and safe perception of a situation (Friedmann et al., 1983;Parish Plass, 2008). It has been proposed that this perception might facilitate a child's disclosure of the abuse, with the animal acting as a "bridge", enabling a better and more therapeutic connection between the child and therapist (Eggiman, 2006;Ewing et al, 2007). Several studies have explored the possible benefits of animal assisted therapy, but several issues arise when studies are compared, including significant differences in the animal used, and the method, timing, and length of any interactions with the animal. ...
... Several studies have explored the possible benefits of animal assisted therapy, but several issues arise when studies are compared, including significant differences in the animal used, and the method, timing, and length of any interactions with the animal. Nonetheless, it has been reported that animal assisted therapy can reduce externalizing behaviour problems seen in CSA victims, including inattention, hyperactivity, oppositional disorder, and conduct disorder (Eggiman, 2006;Ewing et al, 2007;Shultz, 2005). Other studies utilizing equine assisted psychotherapy have found improvements in a wide variety of areas including progress in psychological, social, and school functioning which have also included improvements in standardized assessments of functioning (Schultz et al., 2007). ...
Abstract
Child sexual abuse (CSA) is frequent, with rates for
significant abuse estimated at 15‐20% of the female
population and 8‐10% of the male population. Such CSA
frequently leads to significant short‐term and long‐term
sequalae including a multitude of psychiatric conditions
such as post‐traumatic stress disorder, anxiety disorder, and
depression. However, treatment of CSA remains uncertain,
with even the most widely recommended types of treatment,
cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and trauma‐focused
cognitive behavioural therapy (TF‐CBT), having not always
been found to be statistically beneficial in studies of adult
survivors. Furthermore, treatment of children and youth has
been even less well researched. Many types of treatment
have been recommended, including CBT, TF‐CBT, eye
movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), play
therapy, art therapy, and pet therapy. The aim of this review
is to examine the various treatments recommended for CSA
to date, and determine whether one specific treatment or a
combination of treatments may be the most appropriate
therapeutic approach for child and youth victims of CSA.
... (Christian, 2005;Eggiman, 2006;Fine, 2000;Levinson, 1962), and only relatively recently has the literature regarding specific equine-facilitated therapeutic techniques begun to emerge.Since the 1950's, worldwide attention to the potential therapeutic effects of interactions with horses has increased exponentially, with an attendant increase in the number of therapeutic horsemanship facilities available to the public. In the decades since then, the literature on the beneficial effects of horsemanship has grown substantially, particularly regarding the positive physical results of therapeutic interventions utilizing horses. ...
... After receiving over a thousand letters in response to the article, Bossard (1950) revealed in a follow-up article that even though he had contributed over 100 scholarly articles to a variety of journals, none had garnered as much attention, the closest being an article on family table talk that attracted some twenty-five letters. In 1962, Boris Levinson described the benefits of having an animal present during therapy sessions with some patients (see also Netting, Wilson & New, 1987;Serpell, 2000a), which he reported to have discovered accidentally when his dog Jingles enthusiastically greeted an allegedly treatment refractory nine-year-old boy, eliciting a positive response from the child (Eggiman, 2006; see also Fine, 2000;Taylor, 2001). Interestingly, it is reported that Sigmund Freud believed that dogs have a special ability to judge a person's character (Serpell; Eggiman), and that his Chow dog, Jo Fi, was present at all of his therapy sessions, signaling the end of the treatment session by pawing at the door. ...
... Bonding with companion animals has been shown to be a useful treatment alternative for people experiencing distress associated with loss, alienation, trauma and other forms of disequilibrium (Christian, 2005;Folse, Minder, Aycock & Santana, 1994;Granger & Granger, 2004;Hansen, Messinger, Baun & Megel, 1999;Haynes, 1991;Hines, 1983;Levinson, 1962; see also Fine, 2000;Eggiman, 2006;Kruger, Trachtenber & Serpell, 2004;Reichert, 1998;Yorke, 1997Yorke, , 2008. In addition, several studies, have suggested the physiological benefits of bonding with companion animals (Barker & Wolen, 2008;Batson, McCabe, Baun & Wilson, 1998;Beck & Katcher, 1996;Delta Society, 1996;Garrity & Stallones, 1998), most notably Friedmann, Thomas and Eddy's (2000) often-cited research on the cardiovascular effects of pets. ...
... emocional e mental de crianças e adultos. (Eggiman, 2006;Fine, 2010;Phillips e McQuarrie, 2009;Schleidt &Shalter, 2003;ratliff, 2012) Os cães passam por treinamento intensivo e específico, são mantidos em condições de saúde e higiene rigorosas, estando o mais limpo possível para poder frequentar os ambientes hospitalares. Não há raça específica para ser treinada, mas os cães de guarda geralmente não são utilizados, pois podem provocar uma reação inicial de medo, comprometendo o sucesso da terapia. ...
... Não há raça específica para ser treinada, mas os cães de guarda geralmente não são utilizados, pois podem provocar uma reação inicial de medo, comprometendo o sucesso da terapia. (Eggiman, 2006;Grandgeorge etti alli, 2012) A Animais domésticos também são alvos de atitudes impensadas ou impulsivas dos seres humanos, pois muitos acabam soltos, abandonados nas áreas urbanas quando seus proprietários enfrentam situações em que não podem ou não querem mais permanecer com a responsabilidade de manter estes animais, não respeitando seu direito ao bem-estar, deixando de prover abrigo, alimento, água. Além destas necessidades básicas, os animais necessitam que sejam respeitadas as condições de estarem livres de desconforto, de dor, lesões, doenças, livres para expressar seus comportamentos normais e livres de medo e estresse. ...
A série Cadernos de Educação Ambiental apresenta no Caderno
de número 17, Volumes i e ii, o tema Fauna Urbana.
Neste volume (ii), serão citadas algumas das espécies de aves, répteis
e anuros (sapos, rãs e pererecas) mais comuns nas áreas urbanas e periurbanas
do Estado de São Paulo e também a interação entre a população
humana e a fauna urbana.
Dentro do contexto das relações entre a espécie humana e todas as
outras que compartilham o planeta Terra, o convívio harmonioso tem sido
cada vez mais raro. O crescimento populacional, agravado pela capacidade
das pessoas em alterarem o meio ambiente, transforma os ecossistemas
de maneira definitiva.
... Typically, EAA CATs are brief and experiential in nature (Klontz, Bivens, Leinart, & Klontz, 2007). Theoretical and clinical orientations that have incorporated equines include empowerment theory and the health belief model (Smith-Osborne & Selby, 2009), the palliative care model (Boysen, 1985), dual representation theory (Yorke, 1997(Yorke, , 2010Yorke et al., 2008), cognitive remediation (Myers, n.d.;Zanin, 1997), recreation therapy (Myers, n.d.;Smith-Osborne & Selby, 2009), cognitive behavior therapy (Eggiman, 2006;Frame, 2006), humanistic and transpersonal models (Lutter & Smith-Osborne, 2011;Myers, n.d.;Tramutt, 2003), and psychodynamic therapy (Karol, 2007). An intervention that employs equines in the treatment plan, by its very nature, may be appealing and relevant to client populations not otherwise amenable or accessible to traditional hospital or office-based forms of treatment. ...
... Sometimes hidden emotions emerge in this setting while the client is actively engaged in solving the problems at hand (Christian, 2005). Each activity is followed by processing time in which the client is encouraged to make connections between what occurred in the session and his or her internal state (Eggiman, 2006). ...
Objective:
This systematic review examines the empirical literature in an emerging body of evidence for the effectiveness of biopsychosocial interventions involving equines across populations with chronic illness or health challenges.
Method:
Selected quantitative studies published in peer-reviewed journals were reviewed for inclusion; the gray literature and white papers were also explored. Population, Intervention, Comparison, and Outcome (PICO) criteria and Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) were applied to all studies. Fourteen full reports meeting a priori inclusion criteria were extracted from 103 studies accessed through 16 electronic databases and a hand search. Data were synthesized in relation to three research questions informing evidence-based practice.
Results:
No randomized clinical trials were located. Two studies provided a moderate level of evidence for effectiveness. Nine studies demonstrated statistically significant positive effects. Three studies did not find significant psychosocial effects for the target group, although one found significant positive effects for the comparison group.
Conclusion:
In the aggregate, the evidence is promising in support of the effectiveness of complementary and adjunct interventions employing equines in the treatment of health challenges. Future studies are needed that utilize rigorous and creative designs, especially longitudinal studies and comparisons with established effective treatments.
... Otras intervenciones se limitan a que el perro acompañe durante un proceso, como en el estudio de Marcus et al. (2013), donde el perro de terapia acompañaba al paciente con fibromialgia en la sala de espera y se fomentaba que el paciente acariciara al perro, también se permitía la conversación con el guía de temas relacionados al perro. Inclusive en intervenciones de estrés postraumático, que mostraron buenos resultados, como el caso de una niña de 10 años con historia de abuso, donde el perro Vol. 5. No. 1. Enero -Junio de 2013 participaba solo como reforzador y la interacción con la paciente se limitaba a ser acariciado y recibir premios de comida (Eggiman, 2006), o bien, en los trabajos de intervención en situaciones de desastre como atentados terroristas (Shubert, 2012), donde la participación de los binomios de terapia se centra en ayudar con las necesidades psicológicas y los factores de estrés fisiológico de las víctimas; el animal de terapia (no solo se incluyen perros), es utilizado como un objeto transicional para proveer a las personas en crisis, una relación orientada a la realidad que les proporcione consuelo, confort y reducción de síntomas fisiológicos de estrés (Teal, 2011). ...
El objetivo de este trabajo es evaluar los cambios en los pensamientos negativos después de participar en un taller de manejo del estrés asistido con perros de terapia, como apoyo a la técnica de reestructuración cognitiva. Al taller asistieron 9 mujeres. La participación de los perros fue activa. Se evaluaron los pensamientos negativos con el Cuestionario de Pensamientos Automáticos (ATQ); los resultados indican una disminución significativa en los puntajes del ATQ. Se concluye que los perros de terapia pueden contribuir en el proceso de reestructuración cognitiva, cuando se diseñan actividades en las que la participación del perro potencia el trabajo de detectar y cuestionar pensamientos automáticos.
... The closer Jofi continued to be around the patient, the patient was relatively calm, but if he stayed at the far end of the room, the patient was highly anxious. [3] Hence, Freud became a proponent of AAT. ...
Background
Dental anxiety and fear are the major treatment challenges faced by pediatric dentists. Oral hygiene in children with Down’s syndrome is highly compromised in comparison to their healthy counterparts. Animal-assisted therapy, through dogs, has been beneficial in alleviating dental fear and anxiety in healthy pediatric population.
Aim
The aim of the study was to assess the impact of dog-assisted therapy (DAT) on children with Down’s syndrome undergoing dental examination and fluoride varnish application in dental operatory.
Materials and Methods
Twenty children with Down’s syndrome between 5 and 12 years of age were selected. Group A (intervention group): DAT was carried out in the dental operatory. Group B (control group): Dental treatment was performed in the absence of a therapy dog in the dental operatory. Anxiety levels were evaluated by recording the pulse rate and revised modified faces version of the Modified Child Dental Anxiety Scale (MCDAS[f]).
Statistical Analysis
The intergroup comparison of pulse rate was done using an unpaired t -test, whereas the variation in intragroup pulse rate was analyzed using the Analysis of Variance test. The anxiety scores were subjected to a paired t -test for intragroup comparison with P < 0.05 considered to be statistically significant.
Results
Reduction in dental anxiety was observed in the intervention group ( P < 0.001).
Conclusion
DAT can be used as an effective behavior management technique for children with Down’s syndrome undergoing dental examination and simple dental procedures in the dental operatory.
... Vincent et al., 2019); and physical health settings (e.g. Lindström Nilsson et al, 2019); as well as school reading performance (Hall et al., 2016) Similarly, Jones et al.'s (2019) review found that dogs positively impacted both engagement and outcomes in psychological therapy, supporting earlier claims that dogs can support children who find it difficult to engage in therapy (Levinson, 1962) or act out aggressive impulses (Eggiman, 2006). Further, several studies suggest that dogs improve the acceptability of psychological interventions (Jones et al., 2019), and service users rate and respond to therapists more positively in the presence of a dog (Isenstein, 2018;Schneider & Harley, 2006). ...
Evidence suggests that cognitive assessments can evoke feelings of stress for some children, potentially inhibiting cognitive performance and undermining the validity of results. Dogs have been found to be an unobtrusive form of social support for children in other settings, potentially offering a solution to this problem. The aim of this paper was to critically review the literature to explore what effect, if any, dogs may have on children’s performance on cognitive tests, and consider implications for clinical practice. To do so, five databases were systematically searched and returns were screened for eligibility. Studies were collectively described and then appraised using a common appraisal framework. Nine studies exploring the relationship between dogs and cognitive functioning in children (≤18 years) were identified in the literature search. All used an experimental methodology and were of good to fair quality. Together, results indicated that the presence of a dog could reduce stress and enhance cognitive performance across various domains, lending experimental evidence to support the idea that dogs may support children undergoing cognitive assessments. Further trials are now required to explore the generalizability of these associations to clinical settings and implications for test validity. Further implications for policy and practice are discussed.
... 5,6 Even Sigmund Freud understood the human-animal bond, using his own dog, Jofi, in psychotherapy sessions, believing dogs had a special sense and could detect "a patient's level of tension by how close the dog stayed to the patient". 3,7,8 During the 1960s, Dr. Boris Levinson, a child psychologist, also incorporated his dog Jingles into his patients' treatment plans and wrote, "Pet-Oriented Child Psychotherapy," a book that discussed his experiences using pets in patient care. 3 Today, more and more, health care professionals are taking advantage of the positive interaction between humans and animals, adding pet therapy intervention to the patient's care plan. ...
Animal Assisted Activity (AAA) is a non-medical intervention that has been shown to reduce anxiety among nursing home patients in various settings. However, AAA has not been tested among acute care hospitalized older adult patients ages 65 and older. This pilot study explored if a visit from a trained dog and its handler would decrease anxiety among hospitalized, older adult patients ages 65 and greater. The participants were recruited from medical surgical/oncology units, and the Speilberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) 6-item short form was used to measure anxiety both pre- and post-interactions with the AAA-team. The data revealed that a one-time, 12–20-min visit, allowing the patients to pet and to interact with the dog, reduced (p = .000) the participants’ self-reported anxiety.
... Outro importante documento relatando um aintervenção terapêutica com animais foi a de Boris Levinson. O psiquiatra tratando um menino de nove anos de idade concluiu que a presença do cão como co-terapeuta estabeleceu um clima de confiança e ajudou a desenvolver um sólido relacionamento com a criança (Eggiman, 2006). ...
Com objetivo de verificar se a presença do cão na sessão terapêutica com crianças com TEA seria um aspecto motivador, foi realizado um estudo com 24 crianças na faixa etária de três a dez anos. Os resultados obtidos neste estudo foram tabulados e analisados de maneira inferencial, e a diferença entre as médias do tempo de reação foi utilizado o teste Mann Whitney. As diferenças significativas foram comprovadas através de um p-valor ≤0,005. Este estudo demonstrou que as crianças do grupo controle apresentam uma média maior de tempo de reação à sessão em relação às do grupo experimental.
... Otras intervenciones se limitan a que el perro acompañe durante un proceso, como en el estudio de Marcus et al. (2013), donde el perro de terapia acompañaba al paciente con fibromialgia en la sala de espera y se fomentaba que el paciente acariciara al perro, también se permitía la conversación con el guía de temas relacionados al perro. Inclusive en intervenciones de estrés postraumático, que mostraron buenos resultados, como el caso de una niña de 10 años con historia de abuso, donde el perro Vol. 5. No. 1. Enero -Junio de 2013 participaba solo como reforzador y la interacción con la paciente se limitaba a ser acariciado y recibir premios de comida (Eggiman, 2006), o bien, en los trabajos de intervención en situaciones de desastre como atentados terroristas (Shubert, 2012), donde la participación de los binomios de terapia se centra en ayudar con las necesidades psicológicas y los factores de estrés fisiológico de las víctimas; el animal de terapia (no solo se incluyen perros), es utilizado como un objeto transicional para proveer a las personas en crisis, una relación orientada a la realidad que les proporcione consuelo, confort y reducción de síntomas fisiológicos de estrés (Teal, 2011). ...
This work was developed in order to assess changes in negative thoughts after participating in a stress management workshop assisted by therapy dogs, for thus have evidence of the application of canine assisted therapy, as support of cognitive restructuring. 9 women attended the workshop. The participation of the therapy dogs was active. Negative thoughts were assessed with the Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire (ATQ), the results indicate a significant decrease in the scores of ATQ. We conclude that therapy dogs can help in the process of cognitive reframing, when the designed activities focus on the active participation of therapy dog to help people to detect and challenge automatic thoughts.
... Varios autores han citado el Dr. Levinson como el padre del movimiento de la terapia de animales de compañía (Brodie y Biley, 1999;Hooker et al. 2002;Netting et al. 1987). El Dr. Levinson fue el primer profesional médico capacitado para utilizar y recuperar rápidamente animales, en la recuperación de pacientes en consejería (Eggiman, 2006). En los años 1960, él comenzó a utilizar animales en su terapia como un medio para establecer relaciones y crear un medio para que pudiera ser más fácil que participan en las discusiones de su cliente (Hooker et al. 2002). ...
... Dog-assisted therapies and the activities conducted on patient groups have substantially facilitated treatment compliance, particularly in children [35,36]. Previous studies investigating various health problems have shown that animal-assisted therapies and activities may be helpful during routine therapy by achieving optimal results and supporting patient therapy [37][38][39][40][41][42]. Although many studies have examined physiological and motor outcomes in children with cerebral palsy during equine-assisted therapy [43][44][45][46][47], few studies have investigated the performance of dog-assisted therapies and activities in children with cerebral palsy or mental or other physical disabilities [34][35][36]. ...
The aim of the present study was to evaluate dog-assisted therapies and activities in the rehabilitation of children with cerebral palsy and physical and mental disabilities who have difficulties in benefiting from well-being and health-improving services. This descriptive-explanatory study was conducted in disabled children of various ages between 2008 and 2011 by an experienced team in a private training and rehabilitation center in Antalya (Turkey). In this study, five study groups were formed among the children with physical and mental disabilities. During the therapy studies, three dogs were used. For each therapy group, the goals for the children and therapist were defined, and the activities were determined according to these goals. The entire study process was followed using audio-records and photographs of patients. The expected targets were reached in all study groups. The children who experienced fear, anxiety and difficulties due to their disabilities in daily life learned to cope with their anxieties and fears, set goals and make plans to achieve their aims. During this study, the children improved their abilities to use their bodies according to their capabilities. Accordingly, they improved their ability to develop empathy between themselves and a therapy dog, to receive and present help, and to communicate. The results of the present study revealed that dog-assisted therapies and activities can be a supportive method for routine treatment procedures in the rehabilitation of children with cerebral palsy and physical and mental disabilities.
... Kuuluisan psykiatrin Sigmund Freudin kerrotaan käyttäneen koiraansa Jo-Fitä arvioimaan potilaittensa psyykkistä tilaa ja hän uskoi koirallaan olleen rauhoittava vaikutus kaikkiin potilaisiinsa, mutta etenkin lapsiin. (Eggiman 2006.) Lastenpsykiatri Boris Levinsonia pidetään kuitenkin henkilönä, joka toi ensimmäisenä esille ihmisen ja eläimen välistä vuorovaikutusta ja alkoi käyttää aiheesta muun muassa nimeä lemmikkiterapia. ...
... Troeteldiere vorm ʼn integrale deel van gesinne in verskillende kulture en sosioekonomiese gemeenskappe en kan ʼn belangrike rol in die lewens van kinders en adolessente speel (Esposito et al., 2011).Troeteldier-ondersteunde terapie en aktiwiteite kan met kinders in verskeie situasies en omgewings gebruik word en verskeie navorsers het hieroor gerapporteer. Kinders wat sukkel met sosialisering (Martin & Farnum, 2002) en met trauma (Eggiman, 2006) het almal goed gereageer op TOT. Dit is ook gebruik met kinders wat leesprobleme het (Booten, 2011;Jalongo et al., 2004;Kaymen, 2005;Paradise, 2007) en met kinders met leergestremdhede (Griess, 2010). ...
Proefskrif ingelewer vir die graad Doktor in Sielkunde in die Fakulteit Lettere en Sosiale Wetenskappe aan die Universiteit Stellenbosch Studieleier: Prof. Leslie Swartz Mede-studieleier: Prof. Estelle Swart Maart 2013 _____________ ____________
... Although the majority of the EMH response included traditional mental health providers (eg, counselors, psychiatric nurses, therapists, psychologists), these services were complemented by alternative approaches such as canine therapy teams and massage therapists. Some research is supportive of the use of alternative approaches such as canine therapy or massage therapists to complement traditional mental health approaches [22][23][24] ; however, these studies have not focused on disaster responses. For example, Chandler 25 found that dogs were useful as "cotherapists" when dealing with withdrawn and noncommunicative individuals in counseling or school settings. ...
Emergency mental health (EMH), a field that is often not well represented when considering emergency preparedness, is nonetheless a vital component to any disaster response. Emergency mental health issues must be considered not only for victims of disasters and their families, friends, and coworkers but also for both on-scene and off-scene responders and members of the community who may have witnessed the disaster. This article describes the EMH preparation for and response to the crash of Continental Airlines flight 3407 in western New York on February 12, 2009, killing all 49 crew and passengers on board and 1 person on the ground. It describes aspects of the response that went as planned and highlights areas for improvement. The lessons learned from this EMH preparation and response can be used to inform future planning for disaster response.
( Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness . 2010;4:326-331)
Dental anxiety refers to the negative emotional response of fear or avoiding dental care, which is exhibited by cognitive, physiological, and motor reactions when related to dental visits or dental treatment. Diverse approaches have been put forth to manage these adverse reactions during dental treatment, with the main emphasis on nonpharmacological and pharmacological management or altering the environment. Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) has been suggested as an alternative to conventional methods that, according to prior research on human-animal interactions, has soothing benefits for individuals. Numerous articles have shown that activities involving pets help to lessen tension in dental practice. A trained animal is used in health care as a goal-oriented intervention to enhance interactions or lessen a patient’s fear and discomfort. AAT appointments are arranged for a set time and duration to include an animal that has completed temperament testing, intensive training, and certification, in contrast to animal-assisted activities. The companion animal, which is available for the company throughout the dentist appointment, can assist in removing barriers to communication and enabling the patient to build a secure and soothing bond, minimizing treatment-related stress. By conducting this review, we would like to emphasize on benefits and obstacles of AAT for behavior management in pediatric dental procedures.
Background: The manifestation of complex trauma results from exposure to severe and repetitive stressors occurring within the caregiver system. Frequently associated with child maltreatment, complex trauma can lead to impairments in multiple domains, including attachment, affect and behavioural regulation, and cognition. Treatments, including Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, have been shown to be efficacious, but high attrition rates point to the need for complementary methods that boost client retention and treatment efficacy. This systematic review examines whether dog-assisted therapy has beneficial impacts on the treatment of complex trauma and whether it can decrease treatment attrition among children presenting with complex trauma exposure. Methods: We followed PRISMA guidelines to locate relevant research reports. Seven published research reports matched the inclusion criteria. Results: Dog-assisted therapy may increase the efficacy of standard interventions for complex trauma, although only one study formally assessed treatment retention. Across most studies, there is an overall lack of detailed information on the nature of therapeutic activities involving the dog and how these activities may complement or enhance therapy as usual. Studies were of varying methodological quality, impacting the reliability of findings. Conclusions: Future studies should aim to better describe and justify dog-assisted therapy techniques and evaluate these in comparison with standard evidence-based approaches to the treatment of childhood complex trauma.
Hasta bakımında kullanılan rutin tedavilerin yanında destekleyici uygulamaları dahil etmek, biyopsikososyal yönden tam bir iyilik halinin kazanılması ve korunmasına yardımcı olacaktır. Bunu sağlamak adına bireylerin üzerindeki hastalık etkilerini en aza indirmek ve yaşam standartlarını optimum seviyeye çıkarmak için rehabilitasyon programları geliştirilmelidir. Rehabilitasyon programlarının istenilen amaçlara ulaşabilmesi için destek alınan uygulamalardan biri de hayvan destekli uygulamalardır. Hayvan destekli uygulamanın yaygın gelişimsel bozukluklar, davranış bozukluğu, anksiyete, yalnızlık duygusu, ajitasyon, ağrı, stres ve depresyon, şizofreni, demans, Alzheimer gibi ruhsal semptom ve hastalıklarda ve kanser, AIDS, afazi, kardiyovasküler hastalıklar, diyabet, solunum sistemi hastalıkları, inme gibi fiziksel hastalıklarda hastalık semptomlarını hafifletmek ve yaşam kalitesini artırmada olumlu etkileri olduğu belirtilmiştir. Literatür incelendiğinde hayvan destekli uygulamalarla ilgili çalışmaların yurt dışında yaygın olduğu ancak ülkemizde yok denecek kadar az olduğu bildirilmektedir. Hemşirelik girişimi olarak hayvan destekli uygulamalara yönelik çalışmaların artırılmasına ihtiyaç vardır. Bu derlemenin amacı sağlığın geliştirilmesinde hayvan destekli uygulamaların rolünü literatür eşliğinde incelemektir.
The presence of animals can be beneficial in managing secondary trauma. Animals can serve to reduce stress, anxiety, and depression and encourage exercise and playfulness while providing unconditional love and affection. Humans have kept pets for the purpose of stress reduction throughout history. Archaeologists have uncovered the remains of a puppy cradled in the hands of a human from as early as 10,000 BCE. Pets have been associated with health benefits including lowering of blood pressure, and in general pet owners have lower levels of cardiac disease, heart failure, strokes, and other circulatory problems. The human-animal connection enhances one’s ability to form and trust relationships. When secondary trauma produces feelings of isolation and an urge to withdraw, contact with animals can diminish the feeling of being alone and can facilitate an inclination to seek social contact with others. Animals have been used in healthcare facilities for many years and have been found to facilitate both physical and psychological healing. Numerous well-controlled empirical studies have shown the value of service animals for both civilians and veterans. The presence of animals enhances trust in the environment; increases one’s ability to experience and give love, compassion, and affection; and generally reduces negative affective states. Most of the studies on the beneficial effects of the presence of animals have relied upon self-report measures. However, studies do exist showing lower pre-post levels of cortisol following engagement with animals. A case study is presented of a VA physician who experienced extensive secondary trauma owing to the suffering she witnessed among those with serious COVID infections. This physician had tried various forms of intervention including social support groups but was most helped by the presence of her pets.
PurposeChildren are often afraid to visit a dentist. Dental anxiety is a worldwide issue and a barrier to successful treatment outcome. Pet therapy, especially through dogs, has been demonstrated to be beneficial in reducing anxiety. In today’s generation, where dopamine is prevalent, attention is hijacked, and children are tethered to screens—this research on animal-assisted therapy outlines the impact on children undergoing simple dental procedures, and to evaluate its use in long-term behavior management, and child and parental acceptance of this technique.Methods
One hundred and two children between five and 10 years of age and requiring simple dental procedures were selected randomly and divided into two groups. In Group A, dental treatment was carried out in the presence of a therapy dog, and in Group B (the control group), dental treatment was carried out in a regular dental setup. Anxiety levels were evaluated by pulse rate and anxiety rating scale. Prior to exiting the room, the parents were asked to rate the child’s interaction with therapy dogs.ResultsAccording to an independent t test, reduction in anxiety was highly significant (p < 0.001).Conclusion
Animal-assisted therapy is an effective behavior management strategy.
This is a narrative review of literature on therapeutic interventions with child and adolescent survivors of childhood sexual abuse (CSA). This is a step towards investigating the existing evidence-base for the therapeutic interventions, including various approaches to therapy and modalities, practiced by professionals with child and adolescent survivors of CSA. The key objective of this review was to examine treatment outcomes, established evidence-base and gaps in extant knowledge of different therapeutic interventions documented as being practiced within this population for CSA trauma. A number of individual studies, systematic reviews and meta-analyses were identified through a wide range of databases, including appropriate reference search. Findings reflected an absence of culturally-specific, clear guides to therapy for CSA survivors, particularly for child and adolescent survivors. Further, inconclusive, conflicting and contradictory evidence-base of therapeutic approaches, with limited scope and methodological flaws, was revealed. Based on these findings, it is argued that the factors that inform decisions regarding the therapeutic practice of practitioners, including mental health professionals, in real settings with child and adolescent survivors of CSA are not clearly defined and often take place in absence of a coherent and consistent evidence-base for existing therapeutic practices documented for CSA. Implications for research and practice are discussed.
The Clinical Practice of Equine-Assisted Therapy bridges theory, research, and practical methods to fill a rapidly developing gap for physical, occupational, speech, and mental health professionals interested in incorporating horses in therapy. Extensively researched and citing over 300 peer-reviewed journal articles, it examines core issues such as terminology, scope of practice, competency recommendations, horse care ethics, and clinical practice considerations. This book is an essential resource for professionals who wish to use a best-practices approach to equine-assisted therapy.
Animal Assisted Therapy in Counseling is the most comprehensive book available dedicated to training mental health practitioners in Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT). It explains the history and practice of AAT in counseling, discusses the latest empirical research, and provides an in-depth explanation of the psychodynamics of AAT within various theoretical frameworks. Readers will learn the proper way to select, train, and evaluate an animal for therapy. The use of a number of different therapy animals is considered, including dogs, cats, horses, birds, farm animals, rabbits and other small animals, and dolphins. Guidelines for implementing AAT in settings such as private practices, community agencies, schools, hospices, and prisons are covered, as well as ethical and legal considerations, risk management, diversity issues, and crisis and disaster response applications. Numerous case examples illustrate the use of AAT principles with clients, and forms, client handouts, and other resources provide valuable tools. This unique resource is an indispensable guide for any counselor looking to develop and implement AAT techniques in his or her practice.
This study evaluates and compares the effectiveness of three group interventions on trauma symptoms for children who have been sexually abused. All of the groups followed the same treatment protocol, with two of them incorporating variations of animal-assisted therapy. A total of 153 children ages 7 to 17 who were in group therapy at a Child Advocacy Center participated in the study. Results indicate that children in the groups that included therapy dogs showed significant decreases in trauma symptoms including anxiety, depression, anger, post-traumatic stress disorder, dissociation, and sexual concerns. In addition, results show that children who participated in the group with therapeutic stories showed significantly more change than the other groups. Implications and suggestions for further research are discussed.
This article reviews the literature investigating psychosocial benefits of equine-assisted activities (EAA) for children and
adolescents with physical, mental, and family challenges. It further analyzes implications for clinical social work practice
in the use of EAA as complementary or adjunct interventions with these populations, thus addressing a gap in the literature
on population-specific outcomes of EAA. As a contribution to methodology in future research, the conceptual analysis suggests
that concurrent examination of complementary interventions across categories of special needs could add to the knowledge base
concerning these children’s psychosocial status. Cross-domain investigations could also assess the contribution of each challenge
to the status of children with multiple conditions.
KeywordsChildren and adolescent social work practice-Children with special needs-Disabilities-Therapeutic horseback riding-Hippotherapy-Equine-facilitated psychotherapy-Complementary and adjunct therapies
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.
To determine whether animal-assisted therapy is effective in the rehabilitation of middle-aged schizophrenic patients living in a social institution.
A before and after study with nine-month treatment period.
Social institute for psychiatric patients.
Seven schizophrenic patients living in the social institute.
Weekly sessions of animal-assisted therapy for a nine-month period, each therapeutic session lasting for 50 minutes. MEASURES USED: The Independent Living Skills Survey assessed by an independent rater.
After the completion of the therapy significant improvement in the domestic and health activities occurred.
Animal-assisted therapy seems to be helpful in the rehabilitation of schizophrenic patients living in a social institution.
Despite the increasing support of utilizing animals as adjuncts to therapy, empirical research evaluating such programs is sparse. In an attempt to help fill this void, a quantitative research design was developed to assess the efficacy of an animal-assisted therapy program being conducted at a residential facility for children with multiple disabilities. Fourteen students participated in the program. Utilizing a multiple baseline design, three designated raters were assigned to evaluate the behavioral outcomes of the student participants outside of the therapeutic setting. Although analysis of the data indicated a positive effect for all participants, no generalizations could be made due to a number of confounding factors. This article reviews the research protocol utilized in the study and offers a discussion of the problematic variables inherent in this type of research.
This . . . guidebook, designed for use by both parents and therapists, targets typical problem areas for children with behavior disorders and provides background information, step-by-step instructions, and many useful worksheets and concrete examples to assist parents and therapists in skills training efforts.
A . . . guide to managing behavior disorders and helping children improve developmental skills, this book will be a . . . resource for the parents of children with behavior disorders and the professionals who work with them. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
• No previous studies regarding either structured, strictly controlled pet visitation programmes in paediatric hospital wards or hospital staff attitudes towards them have been conducted in Australia. Information regarding these is essential in order to minimize problems during implementation of such programmes.
• The aim of the study was to analyse hospital staff perceptions regarding the introduction of a pet visitation programme in an acute paediatric medical ward prior to and following implementation of the programme and to compare attitudes between the various professional groups.
• The study consisted of two cross‐sectional surveys. A total of 224 anonymous questionnaires were distributed to administrators, doctors, nursing staff and therapists 6 weeks before and 195 were distributed 12 weeks after the introduction of a pet visitation programme. Responses were received from 115 respondents (before the programme introduction) and 45 respondents (after the programme introduction).
• Prior to the introduction of the dog visitation programme, there were high staff expectations that the programme would distract children from their illness, relax children and that it was a worthwhile project for the hospital to undertake.
• Following implementation of the programme these expectations were strongly endorsed, in addition to the perception that the ward was a happier place, the work environment was more interesting and that nurses accepted the dogs. After implementation staff were less concerned about the possibility of dog bites and dogs doing damage to equipment.
• Allied health staff and non‐clinical staff were more positive about the programme with respect to ward climate and acceptance than were doctors and nurses.
• We conclude that well‐planned dog visitation programmes result in positive anticipation among staff and high levels of satisfaction following programme impact.
This article addresses the use of animal assisted therapy in individual counseling for sexually abused children. It focuses on how the animal can help the sexually abused child disclose abuse and express feelings. Storytelling forms a part of the treatment process. The author's clinical experience at Project Against Sexual Abuse of Appalachian Children in Knoxville, Tennessee, forms the basis for the article.
Provides an overview of the rapidly expanding area of human-animal bonding. The historical background of human-animal bonding, the current multidisciplinary interest in companion animals, and theoretical perspectives are reviewed. The article examines programmatic and legislative developments in which social workers have participated and presents implications for practice, along with relevant examples.
Registered Nurse, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
- Janet Eggiman
- Rn
- Lmft Ms
- Adjunct Professor
Janet Eggiman, RN, MS, LMFT, Adjunct Professor, Ivy Tech Community College, Fort Wayne, Indiana; Registered
Nurse, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Center for Brief Therapy, PC, Fort Wayne, Indiana
Disclosure: Janet Eggiman, RN, MS, LMFT, has disclosed no relevant financial relationships.
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