Animal-assisted therapy for psychiatric patients - Essay Example

Animal-Assisted Therapy for Psychiatric Patients Your School Summary of the Research Studies and Findings Sandra B. Barker wrote an extensive article in the February 1999 issue of the Psychiatric Times entitled Therapeutic Aspects of the Human-Companion Animal Interaction. In this article Barker explored the benefits of owning a pet, animal visitations and Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT). As a result of extensive research, Barker found the use of animals in psychiatric therapy to be extremely beneficial. A 1980 study by Friedmann revealed that pet owners yielded a longer life than non-pet owners. Barker also showed that a 1997 study demonstrated the positive effects animal therapy had on sexual abuse survivors. In that study it was found that survivors with pets found support and trust in their animal counterparts. As a result, the survivors had less anger and less abusive natures as adults (Barker, 1999). In the same article Barker mentioned that a 1985 study by Francis discovered the healing power of animals by noting the reduction in anxiety patients in a nursing home experienced after being visited by dogs. Levinson, a child psychiatrist in Canada, made the same observation. It was his observation that children became calmer and more willing to talk when his dog was present during therapy sessions. Barker’s article explored the results of a great number of studies devoted to the effects animals have on mental health patients and the human-animal bond that is shared during Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT). A September 2005 article by Elizabeth Ormerod clearly defined the difference between Animal-assisted Activities (AAA) and Animal-assisted Therapy (AAT). Her article also explored a brief history of the involvement of animals in therapy as well as the involvement of various organizations in the promotion of research of AAA and AAT. Throughout the article, the theme of the positive influence of animals as therapeutic aids resided. A study by Barker and Dawson entitled The Effects of Animal-Assisted Therapy on Anxiety Ratings of Hospitalized Psychiatric Patients took a group of 230 patients and used AAT to “examine whether a session of animal-assisted therapy reduced the anxiety levels of hospitalized psychiatric patients.” Upon the conclusion of their study, Barker and Dawson found that the inclusion of animals in therapy resulted in a drastic reduction in stress among their patients. Nancy Edwards and Alan Beck worked together in a study called Animal-Assisted Therapy and Nutrition in Alzheimer’s disease. In their study they had a slightly different approach to the extent to which animals can benefit patients. Although Alzheimer’s is a mental disease, Edwards and Beck used AAT to establish whether or not the nutrition of patients could improve. For the first two weeks of their study they took documentation of results daily. For the next six weeks they checked the status of their patients weekly. At the end of the eight-week period, Edwards and Beck found that the nutrition of their patients had improved and fewer dietary supplements were needed in their treatment as a result of the AAT performed. Marian Banks and William Banks took AAT and applied it to their study, The Effects of Animal Assisted Therapy on Loneliness in an Elderly Population in Long-Term Care Facilities. Of the 64 residents of the facility they used, 45 residents were participants in the study. The majority of those that participated in the study were previous pet owners and it was found that the involvement of animals in their mental therapy resulted in a tremendous reduction of loneliness. As a result of their study, Banks and Banks believe that the presence of animals provided the elderly patients with the companionship they were lacking and desperately wanting. A study by Barak and others used animal-assisted therapy in the care of Schizophrenic patients over a one-year period. Their study, Animal Assisted Therapy for Elderly Schizophrenic Patients: A One Year Controlled Trial took their study and recorded the results over an extended period of time. Of the many AAT studies that exist, theirs is one of the most long-term. As a result, their patients were given the opportunity to form a stronger bond with the animals used in the study. They were able to build a relationship with the animals and as such, Barak documented that the involvement of animals in therapy “encouraged mobility, interpersonal contact and communication. As a whole, the animal assisted therapy provided significant improvement for all ten patients involved in the yearlong study. In an article published by Nancy Monson, she studies the positive effects animals have on humans both psychologically and physiologically. In her studies she has traced the history of animals as a service to humans from the well-know seeing eye dogs to the lesser known AAT animals used in an effort to enhance the level of health of humans. In her article Monson recognizes that the use of animals to aid in health is not limited to those currently diagnosed with a condition. The presence of pets in a home can also act as a prevention of heath problems ranging from depression to cardiovascular health. In her article, she explores the results of Katcher and Beck, the authors of Between People and Pets. They identify the two mechanisms that create successful interaction between animals and humans. The first of the two mechanisms they identify is that pets “draw a person’s attention outward and stop ‘destructive rumination.’” The second mechanism they identify is “that a pet and its owner form a society unto themselves, which makes that person more socially attractive to other people (Monson, 1995). The Effects of Small Dogs on Vital Signs in Elderly Women: A Pilot Study, by Jane Luptak is a study of “the emotional benefits of animals to humans.” Her study went beyond the psychological benefits that are known to be present with animal-assisted therapy and went on to study the actual physical benefits of AAT. She used two dogs for a period of three months for her study. During the time those two dogs had interaction with the patients Luptak found that “Thirteen of the fourteen subjects had a decrease in blood pressure at the second reading as compared to the baseline. Because this was a preliminary study in which Luptak used a rather small sample size, she felt that as a result of her findings, she would advance her research to a more in-depth study in which she hopes to solidify her findings. Luptak acknowledged that the results of the study she conducted were not concrete enough to completely rule out non-animal factors to the lowered blood pressure readings. What she did assess is that pet therapy sessions may be used as an alternative to pet ownership, especially for those patients who do not have the ability or means to care for a pet as they require (Luptak, 2004). Judith Turner, author of Pet Therapy, finds it necessary to recognize the historical existence of animals used for therapeutic purposes. Her article links AAT as far back as the ninth century in Gheel, Belgium. Most of the historical uses of animals as therapy were applied to psychiatric patients. The use of animals in physical therapy is much more recent, as stated by Turner. The reason for which Turner finds the use of animals in therapy beneficial includes the knowledge that “petting an animal can cause endorphins to be released. Endorphins are chemicals in the body that suppress the pain response.” This benefit can be experienced by those who are visited by pets as well as those who own animals. While she recognizes that dogs are used most frequently, she does also identify that farm animals such as horses have been used as well, especially in association with physical therapy (Turner, 2001). In conclusion of her research, Turner notes the precautions that should be taken when involving animals in therapy of any kind. She notes the importance in having a well-trained animal and handler, preferably one that is insured (Turner, 2001). Kathryn Heimlich won a graduate literary award for her quantitative study, Animal-Assisted Therapy and the Severely Disabled Child. Heimlich recognized the historical data that correlates animal-human interaction with increased quality of life for humans. She pointed out that a 1998 study by Proulx assessed that “Pet visitation has been found to produce measurable benefits by fostering socialization, increasing responsiveness, facilitating mental alertness and enhancing an outward focus on the environment.” Heimlich’s study took place at Hope School and involved fourteen children, both male and female. Some of the children involved in the study were diagnosed with mental retardation (Heimlich, 2001). The four things that Heimlich studied were “attention span, physical movement, communication and compliance.” All three of the raters of the results found that the majority of the children involved were positively affected by the animal-assisted therapy. Although Heimlich does feel that her study did demonstrate the positive effects the human animal bond can have on patients, the level of date required to make the practice mainstream was not present. As such, she believes the use of animals to assist therapy will continue to be practiced, although it will be in conjunction with other forms of therapy (Heimlich, 2001). In April of 2001, Jule Klotter wrote a Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients that reviewed various organizations and locations that use AAT in their therapeutic practices. The article recognized Providence Health System and Ca’D’Industria Geriatric Institute for their use of animal-assisted therapy in their centers. The article also describes The Delta Society, a company who provides AAA and AAT services. Morris Holbrook wrote an essay that looks at the bond formed between animals and their owners and the reasons for which the bond between them is so strong and subsequently, can be so beneficial when used therapeutically. Holbrook is a believer in the psychological benefits of pet ownership and companionship. He, as well as many of the other conductors of studies, found that owning a pet can attribute to a reduction in depression and a reduction of loneliness (Holbrook, 2001). On March 28, 2004 there was a Conference dedicated to the connection between animals and humans and if that connection can be used in mental health therapy. The following three people spoke at that conference about their experiences with AAT and the results of those experiences. One of the speakers at the Animal-Assisted Interventions in Adolescent Mental Health conference was Mr. And Mrs. Grager. Their study was “the therapeutic impact of the human-animal bond with at-risk adolescents attending an alternative high school.” Their study took place over the period of one academic year and did not yield results that suggested the animal assisted therapy did anything to change the attitudes of the adolescents in the study. Aubrey Fine was another speaker at the conference who gave a speech entitled, The AAT Rx for Youth, Bridging Research with Clinical Insight. She looked at AAT and the process of integrating it into mental health practice. She discussed three foundation strategies for AAT, “animals acting as a social lubricant, a catalyst for emotion, and adjuncts to clinicians.” This was extremely beneficial as it took a method that has become increasingly popular and demonstrated the most effective ways in which to incorporate it in mental health treatments. Fredrickson and Deprekel were also present at the conference. In Animal-Assisted Therapy for At-Risk Youth and Families, the team explored the effect of animals on adolescents with emotional and behavioral disorders. Their studies used animals in a slightly different way, instead of providing an animal as a companion; they gave adolescents the task of training various animals. In their studies, they found that “as the adolescent continues to work with the animal, they learn to self-regulate arousal and emotion in the process of ‘training’ the animal to self-regulate.” Evaluating the Reliability and Validity of the Studies Although the various studies use animal-assisted therapy in different ways, one thing they all have in common is the lack of concrete evidence that the use of animals is the sole reason for the improvement in patients. At the same time, the results are generally positive and as a result, AAT may be increasingly successful as a therapeutic method in conjunction with other forms of therapy. Ormerod was accurate in researching the history of animal-assisted therapy and animal-assisted activities. However, she failed to provide any clear evidence that the use of animals for therapeutic means proves effective. In all the cases she discussed, she simply stated that they either saw a positive result with animal-assisted therapy or they didn’t. What she failed to mention were any details about the data that was interpreted to come up with these results. On the other hand, Ormerod was very successful in taking a subject with a great amount of historical and present data and condensed the whole study into a concise three page article that begins with the historical background of AAT, continues to explain the practices used, the studies there have been, and the organizations that have been established in an effort to further the usage of AAT in therapeutic sessions. Of the many studies discussed, the study by Barker and Dawson had one of the largest sample groups. With a study that included 230 patients, the Barker/Dawson study carried more validity in the fact that the results were seen in such larger percentages among a rather large sample group. In the study, each participant completed his or her own, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Because this is a self-administered form of measurement, it is impossible to tell if outside influences could have contributed to the level of stress patients were currently feeling. It was also possible that because there is self-assessment involved, it is possible that the participants may have been less accurate than more concrete medical tests. Unfortunately, the study did not provide Barker and Dawson with a very positive outcome. When the participants took part in both animal-assisted therapy sessions and recreational therapy systems, there was no significant difference in the effects the two forms of therapy had on stress or anxiety levels. As such, it could be assessed that the interaction with animals was no more therapeutic than the alternative recreational activities that are already used in the practice of mental health therapy. What cannot be measured are the residual effects of the animals on the patients. If in fact the animals did reduce the stress levels of patients, it is possible then that the results of the study were not entirely accurate. Edwards and Beck did not use the warm and cuddly animals so many other studies did. In fact, their study incorporated the introduction of aquariums on Alzheimer’s patients. The study took place over a sixteen-week period during which the patients involved did improve their nutritional status, thus requiring fewer dietary supplements. Because nutrition levels are something that are able to be concretely measured, this study is one of the most convincing and concrete of all the AAT studies. The Banks/Banks study demonstrating the effects a bond with animals can have on the loneliness of elderly patients in a nursing home. During the Pet History Questionnaire, the team realized that the vast majority of participants had a history of pet ownership as well as a history of strong bonds with animals. Because the majority of United States citizens have pets, these results do coincide with what was expected of the study. The study was very clear in the fact that although the presence of AAT therapy did have a very positive effect on the loneliness of elderly patients. Those that wished to participate in the study were those who had pets in the past. As such, perhaps loneliness was reduced as a result of the fact that they used to have pets and the human-animal bond is one that they were already very familiar with. This finding does no however counteract the positive influence animals had on the participants of the study (Banks, 2001 ). Barak, along with his colleagues, conducted a study, which took place over the extended period of one full year. During that time Barak and his counterparts recorded the effects animals had on Schizophrenic patients. A total of twenty patients were involved in the study. The methods used in the study were extremely well planned and remained consistent throughout the one-year time frame. Animal visitations occurred once a week for a three-hour time span on the same day and the same time every week. By keeping the methods extremely controlled the results of the study have fewer outside influences affecting them. In an effort to ensure that the results of their study were as accurate as possible, Barak and others hired counselors from the Pet Enrichment Therapy program to aid them in their visitations. When the therapy was used in a stable, long-term environment it proved very effective. The data collected and the results found in this study can be valued because the patients were each given a great deal of time in which to form a very special bond with the animals. All the appropriate steps were taken in setting up a very organized and well-planned study and consequently, the results of the study can be trusted. Jane Luptak’s was a study approved by the Institutional Review Board at Northern Illinois University as well as the administration at Lexington Square. Fifteen females took part in the study put on by Luptak. Vital signs were collected of the patients throughout the study, the results of which were only made available to the patients afterward, as to prevent any outside influence. When patients are aware of what is taking place it is increasingly possible for them to influence the data to coincide with what they want the end results of the study to prove. By not letting them have knowledge of the test results, Luptak effectively prevented that situation from occurring. Although the study did show some decrease in blood pressure and heart rate, the evidence was not strong enough to stand-alone. As a result, the study conducted by Luptak gave her enough evidence of a connection between human-animal interaction and the health of the human to encourage her to begin another study with a much larger participant sample. A larger sample over a long period of time would provide Luptak with more accurate results (Luptak, 2004). Kathryn Heimlich’s study of AAT with disabled children involved fourteen children, permitted by their parents to be a part of the study. The fourteen children were split into two groups, both co-eds. Although all the children did not have the same disabilities, they were all attending the Hope School. The children participating in the study were carefully observed as they received AAT. In an effort to make the results as accurate as possible, Heimlich utilized standardized forms as a source of measurement for the progress of the children. Among these standardized reports were the Direct Observation Form (DOF) and the Teacher’s Report Form (TRF) (Heimlich, 2001). A Labrador retriever named Cody interacted with the children for thirty-minute sessions twice a week for eight weeks. The staff of the school assisted, as they already had a concrete knowledge of the children prior to the start of the study. As such, they were among the most accurate people to assess the progress the children were making as a result of the AAT. Of the three different raters of children, all three noted a positive change in the children during the period of time during which the study took place. All three saw the level of change slightly differently but all were in general agreement that the vast majority of the children involved benefited from the experience of AAT (Heimlich, 2001). Although Heimlich is confident in her decision that AAT proves beneficial, she still recommends that it be used as a method of therapy in conjunction with other, more established and widely used therapeutic techniques. She does not feel as though the positive effects of AAT could ever fully replace other methods of treatment entirely (Heimlich, 2001). Of all the studies conducted, that of Heimlich is extremely readable and able to be translated. The information was extremely well documented and she has been extremely detailed in the explanation of the study. Mr. and Mrs. Granger used some of the same scales used as Heimlich while conducting their study. During the course of their study, five children were paired with five local community dogs. The first problem associated with the study is that the animals used were not animals that were trained to be a service to AAT. Instead, they are family pets of homes that desired for their pets to be more disciplined. The study promoted the bond between a child and a dog. The study continued for the duration of the academic year. Of the children involved in the study, the vat majority was male. Three of the five child groups were monitored and at the end of the study, there was little evidence that the bond created between the children and the dogs has any benefit to the behavioral problems of the child (Granger, 2004). What the study did find was an improvement of socialization skills among the children involved in the study. The students were found to have a greater sense of trust than they did prior to the beginning of the study. In addition, the communication skills of the children seemed to be improved. It is the belief of Granger and Granger that a study that involved a much larger number of participants as well as a much longer time frame would yield much more accurate and encouraging results (Granger, 2004). Argument for Conclusions Reached The studies that have been discussed bring me to the conclusion that there is a definite bond that is formed between a pet and their owner. The nature of the bond between a human and an animal serves as therapeutic because of the differences that exist between bonds between humans and bonds between human and other animals. Animals communicate with humans in different ways that other humans can. As a result, the relationship between a human and an animal is not only one that is very trusting, but also one in which the human feels as though the animal needs them. Unfortunately it is also clear that the evidence provided in studies is not the type of evidence that is capable of providing a concrete connection between animal-human interaction and improved health conditions of humans. The argument can be made, however, that the practice of AAT and AAA would not date back as far as it does if there were not some truth and validity to the concept. The Delta Society has such a firm belief in the healing powers of animals that they have build an entire foundation around the training of animals for use in AAT. Not only are there a great number of organizations devoted to training animals for use in animal-assisted therapy, but there are also a number of places that are already using the services of organizations such as The Delta Society in the treatment of their patients. Among such companies are Providence Health Systems and Ca’D’Industria Geriatric Institute (Klotter, 2001). It makes perfect sense that an animal can act as a calming agent for high anxiety patients. Their demeanor is primarily trusting, loyal, loving and dependent upon their owner. That is not to say that there is not the individual who would not benefit from AAT. Such individuals include those with allergies to animals and those patients who have had bad experiences with animals or who fear animals. When using AAT as a method of mental therapy it is important to take necessary precautions (Turner, 2001). Because the benefits of AAT are seen as a result of the bond that is formed between the human and the animal, I do believe that it is necessary to conduct studies in which the participants have adequate time to establish a strong relationship with their animal counterparts. Short studies may be unsuccessful for the sheer fact that both the human and the animal have not spent enough time together or known each other for long enough to form a medically beneficial bond. If assuming that the previous is true, it could also stand that the most beneficial human-animal relationships are between those of pets and their owners. I believe that further research is required in order to maximize the benefits of human-animal interaction. For those who seek alternatives to traditional medicines, exploring the benefits of animal interaction could be just the thing they are looking for. In today’s advanced scientific world it is so easy to medicate without exploring non-drug related therapeutic options. There is a reason people do not mind telling their pets their most intimate secrets or sharing with them their most intimate moments. Humans do not fear that an animal is going to judge them, abandon them, or reveal them. For the most part, humans are not threatened by animals and as such, instantly have a sense of calm around them. If the interaction between humans and animals were negative, the popularity of owning one or multiple pets would not exist. The longest study I explored took place over the period of one year. I would love to see the results of a study in which a patient was given a pet and spent every day living with that pet for a number of years. I would be interested to see if the general happiness, well-being and health of the owner reflected the presence of the new pet. In order for any AAT studies to be accurate, I also feel as though larger sample groups must be taken and each participant must receive the opportunity to build a strong, committed relationship with the animal in question. Although the studies fail to be concretely conclusive, I do believe that the benefits of AAT are both clearly defined and clearly proven as a result of a great number of studies. Works Cited Banks, M.R., Banks, W.A. (2002). The Effects of Animal Assisted Therapy on Loneliness in an Elderly Population in Long-Term Care Facilities. The Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences, 57:M428-M432 Barak, Y., Osnat, S., Mavashev, S., & Beni, A. (November 2001). Animal Assisted Therapy for Elderly Schizophrenic Patients: A One Year Controlled Trial. American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry, 439-442. Barker, S.B. (February 1999). Therapeutic Aspects of the Human-Companion Animal Interaction. Psychiatric Times, Vol. XVI Issue 2. Barker, S.B., Dawson, K.S. (June 1998). The Effects of Animal-Assisted Therapy on Anxiety Ratings of Hospitalized Psychiatric Patients. American Psychiatric Association, 797-801. Edwards, N.E., Beck, A.M. (2002). Animal-Assisted Therapy and Nutrition in Alzheimer’s Disease. Western Journal of Nursing Research, Vol. 24 No. 6, 697 712. Fine, A.H. (2004). The AAT Rx for Youth: Bridging Research with Clinical Insight. Animal-Assisted Interventions in Adolescent Mental Health. Fredrickson, M., DePrekel, M. (2004). Animal-Assisted Therapy for At-Risk Youth and Families. Animal-Assisted Interventions in Adolescent Mental Health. Granger, B., Granger, G.V. (2004). Evaluating the Effectiveness of Animal-Assisted Therapy Approaches in an Alternative High School for Expelled Youth: A Qualitative/Quantitative Analysis. Animal-Assisted Interventions in Adolescent Mental Health. Heimlich, K. (2001). Animal-Assisted Therapy and the Severely Disabled Child: A Quantitative Study. Journal of Rehabilitation, Oct-Dec 2001. Hollbrook, M.B. (2001). A Collective Stereographic Photo Essay on Key Aspects of Animal Companionship: The Truth About Dogs and Cats. Academy of Marketing Science Review, 2001. Luptak, J.E. (March 2004). The Effects of Small Dogs on Vital Signs in Elderly Women: A Pilot Study. Cardiopulmonary Physical Therapy Journal, Mar 4004. Klotter, J. (April 2001). Animal-Assisted Therapy – For Mental Illness. Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients, April 2001. Monson, N. (February 1995). How Your Pet Helps Your Health. Vegetarian Times, February 1995. Ormerod, E. (September 2005). Companion Animals. Working With Older People. Turner, J. (2001). Pet Therapy. Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine. Read More