Animal-Assisted Therapy: A Meta-Analysis (original) (raw)
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Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 2021
Research has indicated beneficial effects of Animal-Assisted Interventions (AAIs) for children with Autism. However, there is a dearth of meta-analyses and the findings are often contradictory. The current meta-analysis assesses the effectiveness of AAIs on social interaction, communication and global Autism symptoms. A total of 1447 studies were returned, of which 16 (n = 489) met the inclusion criteria. The meta-analyses indicated small effect sizes related to improvements in social interaction and communication and reduction in ASD symptoms. Additionally, there was little evidence for a relationship between dosage and effect size. In conclusion, AAIs appear to offer small improvements in social interaction and communication for children with Autism, which may be comparable to activities used in active control conditions.
Autism-Open Access, 2017
Introduction: Comorbid problems are common in adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The number of studies on the effects of behavioural interventions in adults with ASD is limited, the needs of adults with ASD differ from individual to individual, and the numbers of ASD diagnoses are on the rise worldwide. For this reason, it is of great importance to develop new interventions for adults with ASD and to examine the effectiveness of those interventions on reducing comorbid symptoms. In children with ASD, preliminary positive results are found in interaction with an animal. The effects of Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) have not yet been studied in adults with ASD. Therefore, this study is focused on the effects of AAT in adults with ASD, without intellectual disability. Methods: The explorative study will be conducted in adults with ASD and aims to provide insight into the effects and feasibility of AAT. The intervention consists of ten weekly one-on-one sessions conducted in the presence of a dog. Participants in this study will be randomized after the baseline measurement and equally distributed towards the AAT or waiting-list control condition. The study outcome measures are self-reported stress, psychological distress, self-confidence, levels of autistic traits, heart rate variability, salivary cortisol, and α-amylase. Data will be analysed with mixed models. A comprehensive process evaluation will be conducted for more insight into barriers and facilitators and into feasibility of the intervention. The medical ethics committee CMO region Arnhem-Nijmegen, the Netherlands, approves this study. Written informed consent will be obtained from all participants before enrolment. Discussion: This study protocol describes a research designed to explore the effects and feasibility of Animal Assisted Therapy in adults with autism spectrum disorder.
Animals, 2019
An explorative study on the effects of animal-assisted therapy showed reduced stress and improved social communication in adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). To examine whether this intervention is suitable for a broader scope of application in clinical practice, we conducted a process evaluation alongside the effect study. The aim of this process evaluation was to gain insight into the quality of the study, the relevance and feasibility of the intervention, and the barriers and facilitators to the implementation of the intervention. Questionnaires, semi-structured interviews, and treatment reports were used to analyze process data in 27 participants who were randomized into the intervention condition and in three therapists. Both the participants and therapists evaluated the animal-assisted therapy program as satisfying, feasible, and relevant for adults with ASD. They reported the following arguments for their positive appraisal of the therapy: the therapy helped improve self-insight, joy, relaxation, and physical contact. The participants' attitudes, personal skills for generalization, and severity of contextual problems were named as potential barriers to the feasibility of the therapy program. Females and dog owners were over-represented in this study, and therefore, generalization of the previously established effects should be made with caution. However, given the intervention's effects and the positive evaluation of the program by the participants and therapists alike, animal-assisted therapy can be considered a valuable addition to treatment possibilities for reducing stress and improving social communication in adults with autism spectrum disorder. Abstract: (1) Background: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are considered the gold standard for evaluating a treatment. However, the results of an RCT may remain meaningless for clinical practice in cases of poor intervention feasibility or fidelity (the extent to which the protocol was executed), or when health care professionals or patients experience the intervention as irrelevant or unpleasant. Feasibility and relevance of psychosocial interventions are highly understudied in adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In order to put the effects revealed in an RCT on an animal-assisted therapy (AAT) program in adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) into the context of clinical practice and to formulate guidelines for potential improvements and further implementation of the therapy, the aim of this process evaluation was to gain insight into the relevance and feasibility of the intervention and barriers and facilitators to its implementation. (2) Methods: Data were collected from 27 participants with ASD and three therapists using questionnaires, semi-structured interviews, and treatment reports. Reach, adherence, program fidelity, and program appraisal were evaluated,
Psychological Studies
Although there are a variety of psychological and therapeutic approaches to coping Autism Spectrum Disorder, people with autism still face some challenges in a ''normal'' therapy setting. Some therapy organizations and services have proposed an alternative therapy approach, Animal-assisted therapy (AAT). The aim of this phenomenological study was to gain a better understanding of the therapists and parents of individuals who choose the alternative approach, AAT. Data were collected through structured interviews with a group of three therapists and four parents. An analysis of the data revealed three main themes; the first theme named the perceived benefits of AAT with three subthemes consisting of physical benefits, sensory benefits and emotional benefits. The second theme is named the way AAT works with subthemes of clientcentred therapy and mixed models, and the third theme is potential limitations of AAT. Limitations and suggestions for future research are discussed.
Effectiveness of Animal Assisted Therapy on Children and Adolescents with Autism
Autism, a pervasive developmental disorder encompasses a wide range of social,communication, sensory and cognitive deficits that are challenging to treat. Due to the lack of established standardizedformsoftreatment,adjunctformsoftherapyaretheprimarymethodsofmanagement. One such therapeutic processes is Animal Assisted Therapy, which has recently witnessed the growinginterestandaccumulationofstudiestoassessitsefficiency.Thecurrentstudyfocuseson " The effectiveness of Animal Assisted Therapyon Children and Adolescents with Autism ". As an intervention technique, a qualitative approach was applied to establish the subjective experiences and changes gained by six participants in the study. A triangulation method was employed to collect data from the primary caregiver, animal assisted therapist and the school special educator, throughasemi-structuredinterviewandreviewofmedicalreports.Thematicanalysiswasapplied to analyze the data. The results indicate an improvement in the area of social and communication skills,amongstallthechildrenandadolescents.Otherbenefitssuchasbeingcalmandrelaxedwas observed during the therapy sessions. Hence, it can be suggested that future studies focus on individual skill enhancement and flexibility in the number of sessionsconducted.
Effectiveness of animal-assisted therapy: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials
Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 2014
The objectives of this review were to summarize the evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the effects of animal-assisted therapy (AAT). Studies were eligible if they were RCTs. Studies included one treatment group in which AAT was applied. We searched the following databases from 1990 up to October 31, 2012: MEDLINE via PubMed, CINAHL, Web of Science, Ichushi Web, GHL, WPRIM, and PsycINFO. We also searched all Cochrane Database up to October 31, 2012. Eleven RCTs were identified, and seven studies were about ''Mental and behavioral disorders''. Types of animal intervention were dog, cat, dolphin, bird, cow, rabbit, ferret, and guinea pig. The RCTs conducted have been of relatively low quality. We could not perform meta-analysis because of heterogeneity. In a study environment limited to the people who like animals, AAT may be an effective treatment for mental and behavioral disorders such as depression, schizophrenia, and alcohol/drug addictions, and is based on a holistic approach through interaction with animals in nature. ଝ This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works License, which permits non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Animal-assisted therapies for youth with or at risk for mental health problems: A systematic review
Applied Developmental Science, 2016
To systematically review experimental evidence regarding animal-assisted therapies (AAT) for children or adolescents with or at risk for mental health conditions, we reviewed all experimental AAT studies published between 2000-2015, and compared studies by animal type, intervention, and outcomes. Studies were included if used therapeutically for children and adolescents (�21 years) with or at risk for a mental health problem; used random assignment or a waitlist comparison/control group; and included child-specific outcome data. Of 1,535 studies, 24 met inclusion criteria. Of 24 studies identified, almost half were randomized controlled trials, with 9 of 11 published in the past two years. The largest group addresses equine therapies for autism. Findings are generally promising for positive effects associated with equine therapies for autism and canine therapies for childhood trauma. The AAT research base is slim; a more focused research agenda is outlined.
Introduction to a thematic series on animal assisted interventions in special populations
Applied Developmental Science, 2017
Despite the lack of a strong evidence base, Animal-Assisted Interventions (AAIs) are becoming increasingly popular as a therapeutic tool for special populations with a variety of psychological and physical conditions. This paper introduces a special series of articles which address the proposed theories and processes underpinning potential effects of AAIs. We recommend strategies for improving the evidence base of AAIs giving specific examples in special populations (e.g., children with Autism Spectrum Disorder [ASD]). We consider the challenges in AAI research and suggest directions for future research.
Construct Validity of Animal- Assisted Therapy and Activities: How Important Is the Animal in AAT
Animal-assisted therapy and animal-assisted activities involve a nonhuman animal as a key therapeutic agent in some kind of intervention that may range from highly specified, as in AAT, to more casual, as in AAA. In this review I address the question: How important is the animal in animal therapy? In other words, does the recent literature strongly support the notion that a live animal, as opposed to another novel stimulating component, is specifically necessary for therapeutic success. Two meta-analyses and 28 single empirical studies were reviewed in order to address this issue. I conclude that the effects of AAT and AAA are likely to be moderate and broad at best and that, although improving, the literature has not yet reached an experimentally rigorous enough level to provide a definitive robust conclusion about the effectiveness of these approaches, particularly with regard to the question of whether a live animal is necessary for a therapeutic effect.