DOWNLOAD PDF ANIMAL-ASSISTED THERAPY AND DEPRESSION IN ADULT COLLEGE STUDENTS

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1 Chapter 1 : Animal Assisted Therapy Teen Depression Rehab Paradigm Malibu This study investigated the effects of animal-assisted therapy (A-AT) on self-reported depression in a college population. Forty-four participants were selected on the basis of scores on the Beck. Objective To test the eficacy of AAVs in improving the quality of life in patients with head and neck cancer receiving combined chemotherapy-radiation therapy. Methods 42 patients consented to daily AAVs during the time they received therapy for head and neck cancer. Results 37 patients completed at least baseline and 1 follow-up assessment for a single group analysis of change over time. Limitations Scheduling and patient preference prevented conducting a randomized trial. Satisfaction related to physical symptoms was not signiicantly different from neutral. Though self-selected for an afinity to pets, patients endorsed a high level of satisfaction, which supports the usefulness of the intervention. After the intervention, the volunteer-dog group had the greatest decreases in all areas. In a study by Morgan and colleagues, randomly selected undergraduates were given an anxiety-provoking public-speaking task and then exposed to interaction with a therapy dog and handler team, a friendly person, or no human or animal interaction. After administering the State Trait Anxiety Inventory STAI, the researchers wrote that patients who had interacted with the therapy dog and handler team reported significantly lower levels of anxiety compared with those who had interacted with a person alone or who had no interaction at all. In the two and a half decades since the latter study, many hospitals have welcomed animals, primarily dogs, into their recreational or complementary and alternative medical programs. One of the problems in studying the effects of AAT on cancer patients is the difficulty of measuring patient responses to the intervention. In a longitudinal study of 30 adults who were beginning nonpalliative first-line radiation therapy for cancer, patients were randomly assigned to a dog visit group, friendly human visit group, or quiet read- ing group. Mood, sense of coherence, and self-perceived health were assessed at baseline and at the last session. In all 3 groups, levels on tests decreased after radiation therapy, and no statistically significant differences were found between groups in mood or sense of coherence, although patients all 3 of the groups considered their experiences positively and said they would recommend the intervention to other patients. The authors concluded that identifying proper outcome measures, identifying a true control intervention, and determining an adequate sample size were important for future studies. The present study evaluates the efficacy of AAVs in cancer patients receiving intensive multimodal concomitant radiation therapy and chemotherapy. The primary objective is to assess the impact of certified therapy animal-assisted visits AAV on quality of life during multimodal treatment for head and neck and gastrointestinal GI cancers by using a validated and reliable quality-of-life assessment that is routinely used in cancer clinical trials. Methods Patients were eligible for the study if they were receiving combined chemotherapy and radiation therapy for cancer at Beth Israel Cancer Center in New York, were open to receiving AAVs, and had the ability to sign informed consent and complete the various quality of life forms in either English or Spanish. Those with significant dog allergies, dislike of dogs, or an aversion to or fear of dogs were excluded from participation. All of the therapy dogs in this study were trained by, certified with, and provided under the auspices of The Good Dog Foundation, a New York-based organization that promotes animal-assisted therapy. Patients who were starting multimodal concurrent radiation therapy and chemotherapy for head and neck cancer or GI cancers were recruited at the time of initial consultation or treatment planning visits. Patients who agreed to participate signed an IRB-approved informed consent. The patients met their certified therapy dog during an AAV on the first day of treatment. Dogs were bathed and groomed before visits. The health and safety policies of The Good Dog Foundation were followed at all times. An AAV was scheduled for each radiation therapy treatment or chemotherapy appointment. More than one AAV and certified therapy dog team was assigned to each patient so that a team would be available each day that radiation was scheduled. The daily visit took place in the radiation therapy waiting areas, the chemotherapy suite, or the hospital room. During the visits, the patient and dog interacted in the usual ways, by petting, talking, and playing. It was expected that other Page 1

2 patients in the waiting area would also interact with the therapy dogs. The FACT-G scale is a widely used valid and reliable scale for measuring cancer-related quality of life in clinical trials. It consists of a item core or general module FACT-G with items common to all patients treated for cancer. Additional modules for specific cancer sites measure symptoms and treatment effects specific to each type of cancer. Because of the nonhomogeneous nature of the cancers and conditions in the patients in this sample, only the core module was used to evaluate the AAV program. The Satisfaction with The AAV Intervention instrument used in this study is an item scale that was adapted from the Pet Attitude Scale, and a treatment satisfaction scale used in a previous cooperative group study. Each question in the satisfaction scale was rated on a 7-point Likert-type scale ranging from 1 not satisfied to 7 extremely satisfied. A factor analysis of the questions indicated that there were aggregated underlying satisfaction factors: Satisfaction was assessed only after the patient had experienced the AAV. Each factor was scored by calculating the mean over all items in the scale so the possible range for each scale score was 1 to 7. Normally distributed data e. Outcome data were analyzed using linear mixed model regression to compare changes in the FACT-G and in satisfaction over time for all patients with a baseline and at least 1 follow-up measurement. Results About patients were approached to participate in the study, and 42 signed informed consent. Of the 42 consented patients, 37 had a least a baseline and 1 follow-up measurement. Table 1 shows the basic characteristics of the 37 patients who were included in the intent-to-treat ITT analysis. Ethnicity patterns as shown in Table 1 were similar to the general patient population of the hospital reflected in nonclinical trial practices. As a tertiary care facility with a center of excellence in head and neck cancer treatment, patients came to Beth Israel from local areas as well as other US cities and internationally, specifically for treatment. The mean duration of each visit was 15 minutes, and there were a mean of 18 visits per patient. This increase was not clinically meaningful, however. The means for EWB also showed small increases over time, which were not significant when time was analyzed by itself. Table 3 shows the mean scores for each satisfaction factor. There were no significant changes in satisfaction over time between first and last administration. In contrast, the mean scores for Physical were not significantly different from a neutral score of 4 at either first or last administration. Because of the high symptom burden for patients receiving concurrent radiation therapy and chemotherapy, we sought a creative intervention that could be easily replicated at cancer centers nationally and internationally. Confirmation of the value of AAVs to patients receiving multimodal cancer treatment justifies the formation of community cancer center partnerships to make the use of AAVs a viable option. The items are clustered in 2 areas: Patients who enrolled in the study had self-selected to participate, so it was predictable that their attitudes toward pets would be high from the start. Data analysis showed that such an affinity was sustained throughout the intervention. Responses to the items about the helpfulness of the AAVs during treatment showed improvement throughout their period of treatment and remained high at the end of the intervention. These responses further confirm the usefulness of AAVs in this treatment setting. Nonscientific qualitative responses to the intervention focused on 2 areas: It is such a good program. Patients also commented on the value of the human visitors. They dispelled my worries while I was waiting for my treatment. Such positive outcomes were especially meaningful in the context of this study. Radiation therapy centers struggle with the expectable technical delays that come with working with sensitive equipment, which often resulted in the AAV team being on time but a patient receiving a delayed treatment time, after the AAV team was scheduled to leave. Inevitable lateness due to delays in the public bus or subway transit systems prevented patients from completing all the scheduled AAV visits. Delays in the on-time arrival of ambulette or van services further hampered AAV team and patients from being in the same place at the same time. Anticipated inclement weather in the northeast portion of the United States added an additional stress on the scheduling. Future studies could examine whether AAVs have their greatest impact on ambulatory or inpatient care, or whether its impact is more prominent with certain types of cancer or treatment modality. The inability to blind or randomize arms of a study with or without AAVs is driven by patient prefer- ence and their concern about allergic reactions to the dogs. These study-related procedural obstacles are much less likely to be impediments Page 2

3 to a clinical program, which would not have to adhere to the kind of strict scheduling guidelines a research study requires or to evaluate outcomes, where uniformity is vital. Having had AAVs off-study in the infusion suites at our cancer center over many years has shown that patients and staff wholeheartedly welcome the visits, without the concern about the standardization that was necessary for this study. AAVs freely relate to many patients, to visitors accompanying patients, and to staff members. Cancer centers that are considering adopting an AAV program should not be deterred by the obstacles encountered in the standardization of the procedures for this study. AAVs add a valuable element to the environment of care for patients receiving multimodal cancer treatment. A more widespread presence in cancer treatment centers should be encouraged. Acknowledgments This paper was presented as a poster at the American Psychosocial Oncology Society annual meeting. Animal-assisted interventions in historical perspective. Handbook on animal-assisted therapy-theoretical foundations and guidelines for practice 2nd ed. National Institutes of Health website. The health benefits of pets. Accessed December 4, Animal companions and one- year survival of patients after discharge from a coronary care unit. Pet ownership, but not ace inhibitor therapy, blunts blood pressure responses to mental stress. Talking, looking and blood pressure. Physiological consequences of interactions with the living environment. New perspectives on our lives with animal companions. University of Pennsylvania Press. Animal-assisted therapy â magic or medicine? J Psycho- som Res. The pet as an anxiolytic intervention. J Nerv Ment Dis. Animal-assisted therapy and depression in adult college students. Canine visitation pet therapy. Animal-assisted therapy in patients hospitalized with heart failure. Am J Crit Care. An examination of anxiolytic effects of interaction with a therapy dog. Barker S, Dawson K. The effects of animal-assisted therapy on anxiety ratings of hospitalized psychiatric patients. Page 3

4 Chapter 2 : Pet Therapy Provides Farâ reaching Health Benefits For Older Adults - Longevity - blog.quinto AbstractThis study investigated the effects of animal-assisted therapy (A-AT) on self-reported depression in a college population. Forty-four participants were selected on the basis of scores on the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Animals as healers Animal-assisted therapy can reduce pain and anxiety in people with a range of health problems. Is medicine going to the dogs? Yes, but in a good way. Pet therapy is gaining fans in health care and beyond. What is pet therapy? Pet therapy is a broad term that includes animal-assisted therapy and other animal-assisted activities. Animal-assisted therapy is a growing field that uses dogs or other animals to help people recover from or better cope with health problems, such as heart disease, cancer and mental health disorders. Animal-assisted activities, on the other hand, have a more general purpose, such as providing comfort and enjoyment for nursing home residents. How does animal-assisted therapy work? You say yes, and your doctor arranges for someone to tell you more about the program. Soon after that, an assistance dog and its handler visit your hospital room. They stay for 10 or 15 minutes. And you feel a little less tired and a bit more optimistic. Who can benefit from animal-assisted therapy? Animal-assisted therapy can significantly reduce pain, anxiety, depression and fatigue in people with a range of health problems: Family members and friends who sit in on animal visits say they feel better, too. Pet therapy is also being used in nonmedical settings, such as universities and community programs, to help people deal with anxiety and stress. Does pet therapy have risks? The biggest concern, particularly in hospitals, is safety and sanitation. Most hospitals and other facilities that use pet therapy have stringent rules to ensure that the animals are clean, vaccinated, well-trained and screened for appropriate behavior. They make regular visits to various hospital departments and even make special visits on request. The dogs are a welcome distraction and help reduce the stress and anxiety that can accompany hospital visits. Page 4

5 Chapter 3 : RESEARCH - Animal Assisted Therapy Study - The Good Dog Foundation Animal-assisted therapy and depression in adult college students Translate with. translator. This translation tool is powered by Google. FAO is not responsible for. You might also like these other newsletters: Please enter a valid address Sign up Oops! Please enter a valid address Oops! Please select a newsletter We respect your privacy. When Alyson, a year-old college student, brought a kitten home for her grandmother, she and her family learned firsthand of the positive affect a pet can have on the health and outlook of an older person. Using animals to offset emotional and even physical problems and to improve quality of life is especially helpful for seniors, who as a group commonly experience loneliness, depression, and loss of mobility. It takes just a bit of careful planning to ensure that the relationship is a happy, beneficial one for all concerned. Health Benefits of Pet Ownership A growing body of research is revealing the psychological and physiological benefits that pet ownership confers on people of all ages â and on seniors in particular. Sometimes, as seniors age, they become more withdrawn and solitary, losing both the desire and ability to develop new relationships. Not only do pets offer much-needed companionship, but they can increase the quantity and the quality of social interactions among their human owners. Seniors who are pet owners engage in more frequent conversations, for example. Unlike their non-pet-owning peers, who tend to dwell on the past, pet owners focus on current interests and activities, which provide common ground with new acquaintances and increase the opportunity to build new social bonds. Fuzzy, furry cats and dogs are not the only creatures that can provide the emotional and physical benefits associated with pet therapy. Fish, birds, and other animals can reduce loneliness and encourage healthy behaviors as well. In another study, conducted in northern Italy, seniors who were given canaries had fewer cases of depression in comparison to those in the study without pets, and enjoyed an increased quality of life as a result. Tips for Making the Right Choices A little bit of forethought in selecting the right animal and planning for its care can make a big difference in the success of the relationship, for both pet and owner. Issues to think through before adoption include: Dogs, for instance, make wonderful companions but demand greater care and training than cats, birds, or fish. Are you planning to stay in the same place for many years, or will you be making a transition to an assisted-living facility? Some retirement communities have regulations that would affect the type of pet you could bring with you. People with allergies should be especially cautious when choosing to adopt a pet. Not only can allergies to pet dander cause trouble, but animals can track pollen, dust, and mites indoors. Seniors living on a fixed income must be extra conscientious about planning for the additional costs associated with caring for a pet â including food, litter for cats, vet bills, and medications. For many who have come to depend on their pets for companionship, separation from the animal can be devastating, and additional human attention will be essential. Increasingly, senior facilities are turning to pet visitation therapy to help improve the quality of life for residents. One initiative, Eden Alternatives, a nursing home reform effort, successfully uses resident pets to ameliorate loneliness, helplessness, and boredom â the "three plagues" of conventional nursing care facilities. Outreach programs like these give senior animal lovers the chance to interact with pets without the responsibility of providing full-time care. If you or a loved one would like a pet but have concerns about the expenses involved, visit Pets for the Elderly, an organization that assists seniors with pet adoption fees. Learn more in the Everyday Health Longevity Center. Chapter 4 : Pet Therapy and Depression - Depression Center - blog.quintoapp.com Article 75 Animal-Assisted Therapy: Best Practices for College Counseling Julia F. Kronholz, Vanessa F. Freeman, and Randi C. Mackintosh Kronholz, Julia F., is a fourth year doctoral student in counseling and school. Chapter 5 : Animal-assisted therapy and depression in adult college students Page 5

6 Researchers found a 60 percent decrease in self-reported anxiety and loneliness symptoms among college students following animal-assisted therapy.. The study by investigators at Georgia State. Chapter 6 : Animal Therapy Can Ease College Stress Animals and pets have often played a significant role in the lives of humans. Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) has touched the lives of many people experiencing stressful life transitions. It is a growing form of therapy that benefits both the humans and the animals involved. This chapter describes AAT. Chapter 7 : Pet therapy: Animals as healers - Mayo Clinic Animal-Assisted Interventions Research Animal-assisted therapy and depression in adult college students. Perspectives on animal-assisted activities and. Page 6