Animal Assisted Therapy: The Role of Dogs as a Therapeutic Intervention
Main Article Content
Abstract
Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) has been employed for hundreds of years. Over the last century AAT has been shown to be efficacious as an adjunctive treatment modality for a wide range of pathophysiology. The most common animal employed in AAT is the dog. Those animals that are specifically trained for a role in AAT are termed “therapy dogs”. From the treatment of acutely psychotic psychiatric patients to patients recovery from total joint arthroplasty AAT has shown itself to be a useful clinical tool. The biochemical basis for the success of AAT lays in its effect on several neuroactive peptides including oxytocin and Beta endorphin. Numerous studies have shown not only an increase in oxytocin levels in the subjects receiving AAT but also the therapeutic animals themselves indicating the filiative nature of AAT. Unfortunately AAT as a low cost therapeutic intervention has yet to receive widespread recognition by the medical community. However, as more Level I studies are performed investing its potential role across varied pathophysiology we expect AAT to become ever more integrated into the practice of medicine in the future.
Article Details
How to Cite
HARPER, Carl.
Animal Assisted Therapy: The Role of Dogs as a Therapeutic Intervention.
Medical Research Archives, [S.l.], v. 5, n. 4, apr. 2017.
ISSN 2375-1924.
Available at: <https://esmed.org/MRA/mra/article/view/1116>. Date accessed: 19 apr. 2024.
Keywords
Animal Assisted Therapy, Therapy Dog, Pet Therapy
Section
Review Articles
The Medical Research Archives grants authors the right to publish and reproduce the unrevised contribution in whole or in part at any time and in any form for any scholarly non-commercial purpose with the condition that all publications of the contribution include a full citation to the journal as published by the Medical Research Archives.
References
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Harper CM, Dong Y, Thornhill TS, Wright J, Ready J, Brick GW, Dyer G. Can therapy dogs improve pain and satisfaction after total joint arthroplasty? A randomized controlled trial. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2015 Jan;473(1):372-9.
Barker SB, Dawson KS. The effects of animal assisted therapy on anxiety ratings of hospitalized psychiatric patients. Psychiatr Serv. 1998;49(6):797- 801
Barak Y, Savorai BA, Mavasbev BA, Beni A. Animal-assisted therapy for elderly schizophrenic patients: a one-year controlled trial. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2001;9(4):439-442.
Barker SB, Pandurangi AK, Best AM. Effects of animal-assisted therapy on patients’ anxiety, fear, and depression before ECT. J ECT. 2003;19(1):38- 44.
Holcomb R, Meacham M. Effectiveness of an animal-assisted therapy program in an inpatient psychiatric unit. Anthrozoös. 1989;2:259-264.
Souter MA, MIller MD. Do animal-assisted activities effectively treat depression? A meta-analysis. Anthrozoös. 2007;20(2):167-180.
Department of Defense Technical Bulletin TB MED 4: DoD Human-Animal Bond Principles and Guidelines. Washington, DC: US Dept of the Army; January 20, 1017, 2003:2-2. Available at: http://armypubs. army.mil/med/dr_pubs/dr_a/pdf/tbmed4.pdf. Accessed January 10, 2017.
Bekoff M. Animal assistance to humans: animal- assisted interventions. In: Bekoff M, ed. Ency- clopedia of Human-Animal Relationships. Vol 1. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press; 2007:1-2.
Gregg BT. Crossing the berm: an occupational therapist's perspective on animal-assisted therapy in a deployed environment. US Army Med Dep J. 2012 Apr-Jun:55-6.
Brashear TA, Rintala DH. Interest in service-dogs by veterans with spinal cord injuries [abstract]. SCI Psychosoc Process. 2007;20(1) . Taken from: Delta Society Web site. http://www. deltasociety.org/Document.Doc?id=442. Accessed January 20, 2017
Yeager AF, Irwin J. Rehabilitative canine interactions at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. US Army Med Dep J. 2012 Apr-Jun:57-60.
Serpell J. Animal-assisted interventions in his- torical perspective. In: Fine, AH, ed. Handbook on Animal-Assisted Therapy: Theoretical Foundations and Guidelines for Practice. 3rd ed. Amsterdam, Neth: Elsevier; 2010.
Levinson BM. The dog as a "co-therapist". Ment Hyg. 1962 Jan;46:59-65.
Beck A, Katcher A. Between Pets and People: The Importance of Animal Companionship. West Lafayette, IN: Purdue University Press; 1996. Mission statement and history page. Therapy Dogs International Web site. Available at: http://www. tdi-dog.org/About.aspx?Page=Mission+Statement+and+History. Accessed January 20, 2017.
History and founders page. Delta Society Web site. Available at: http://www.deltasociety.org/Page.
aspx?pid=386. Accessed January 20, 2017.
American Veterinary Medical Association. Guidelines for animal assisted activity, animal-assisted therapy and resident animal programs. Available at: https://www.avma.org/KB/Policies/Pages/Guidelines-for-Animal-Assisted-Activity-Animal-AssistedTherapy-and-Resident-Animal-Programs.aspx. Accessed January 20, 2017.
75 Federal Register Vol 75(178) (2010) [p56250] (codified at 28 CFR §36). Available at: http://www. ada.gov/regs2010/titleIII_2010/titleIII_2010_fr.pdf. Accessed January 20, 2017.
Ensminger JJ. Service and Therapy Dogs in Ameri- can Society: Science, Law and the Evolution of Canine Caregivers. Springfield, IL: Charles C. Thomas; 2010.
Marazziti D, Catena Dell’Osso M. The role of oxytocin in neuropsychiatric disorders. Curr Med Chem. 2008;15(7):698-704.
Petersson M, Uvnas-Moberg K, Erhardt S, Engberg G. Oxytocin increases locus coerruleus alpha 2 adrenoreceptor responsiveness in rats. Neurosci Lett. 1998;225:115-118
Yang J. Intrathecal administration of oxytocin induces analgesia in low back pain involving the endogenous opiate peptide system. Spine. 1994;19(8):867-871.
Singer T, Snozzi R, Bird G, Petrovic P, Silani G, Heinrichs M, Dolan RJ. Effects of oxytocin and prosocial behavior on brain responses to direct and vicariously experienced pain. Emotion. 2008;8(6):781-791.
Odendaal JSJ, Meintjes RA. Neurophysiological correlates of affiliative behaviour between humans and dogs. Vet J. 2003;165(3):296-301
Handlin L, Hydbring-Sandberg E, Nilsson A, Ejdeback M, Jansson A, Uvnas-Moberg K. Short-term interaction between dogs and their owners: effects of oxytocin, cortisol, insulin and heart rate. Anthrozoös. 2011;24(3):301-315.
Roth M. The effects of cultural and socioeconomics on the performance of global brand image strategies. J Market Res. 1995;32(2):163-176.
Barker SB, Knisely JS, McCain NL, Best AM. Measuring stress and immune response in healthcare professionals following interaction with a therapy dog: a pilot study. Psychol Rep. 2005;96:713-729.
Allen KM, Blascovich J, Tomaka J, Kelsey RM. Presence of human friends and pet dogs as moderators of autonomic responses to stress in women. J Pers Soc Psychol. 1991;61(4):582-589.
Allen K, Blascovich J, Mendes WB. Cardiovascular reactivity and the presence of pets, friends, and spouses: the truth about cats and dogs. Psychosom Med. 2002;64(5):727-739.
Friedmann E, Thomas SA, Cook LK, Tsai C, Picot SJ. A friendly dog as potential moderator of cardiovascular response to speech in older hypertensives. Anthrozoös. 2007;20(1):51-63.
Allen K, Shykoff BE, Izzo JL, Jr. Pet ownership, but not ace inhibitor therapy, blunts home blood pressure responses to mental stress. Hypertension. 2001;38(4):815-820.
Cole KM, Gawlinski A, Steers N, Kotlerman J. Animal-assisted therapy in patients hospitalized with heart failure. Am J Crit Care. 2007;16(6):575-585.
Abate SV, Zucconi M, Boxer BA. Impact of canine-assisted ambulation on hospitalized chronic heart failure patients’ ambulation outcomes and satisfaction: a pilot study. J Cardiovasc Nurs. 2011;26(3):224-230
Orlandi M, Trangeled K, Mambrini A, et al. Pet therapy effects on oncological day hospital patients undergoing chemotherapy treatment. Anticancer Res. 2007;27:4301-4304.
Johnson RA, Meadows RL, Haubner JS, Sevedge K. Animal-assisted activity among patients with cancer: effects on mood, fatigue, self-perceived health, and sense of coherence. Oncol Nurs Forum. 2008;35(2):225-232.
Harper CM, Dong Y, Thornhill TS, Wright J, Ready J, Brick GW, Dyer G. Can therapy dogs improve pain and satisfaction after total joint arthroplasty? A randomized controlled trial. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2015 Jan;473(1):372-9.
Barker SB, Dawson KS. The effects of animal assisted therapy on anxiety ratings of hospitalized psychiatric patients. Psychiatr Serv. 1998;49(6):797- 801
Barak Y, Savorai BA, Mavasbev BA, Beni A. Animal-assisted therapy for elderly schizophrenic patients: a one-year controlled trial. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2001;9(4):439-442.
Barker SB, Pandurangi AK, Best AM. Effects of animal-assisted therapy on patients’ anxiety, fear, and depression before ECT. J ECT. 2003;19(1):38- 44.
Holcomb R, Meacham M. Effectiveness of an animal-assisted therapy program in an inpatient psychiatric unit. Anthrozoös. 1989;2:259-264.
Souter MA, MIller MD. Do animal-assisted activities effectively treat depression? A meta-analysis. Anthrozoös. 2007;20(2):167-180.
Department of Defense Technical Bulletin TB MED 4: DoD Human-Animal Bond Principles and Guidelines. Washington, DC: US Dept of the Army; January 20, 1017, 2003:2-2. Available at: http://armypubs. army.mil/med/dr_pubs/dr_a/pdf/tbmed4.pdf. Accessed January 10, 2017.
Bekoff M. Animal assistance to humans: animal- assisted interventions. In: Bekoff M, ed. Ency- clopedia of Human-Animal Relationships. Vol 1. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press; 2007:1-2.
Gregg BT. Crossing the berm: an occupational therapist's perspective on animal-assisted therapy in a deployed environment. US Army Med Dep J. 2012 Apr-Jun:55-6.
Brashear TA, Rintala DH. Interest in service-dogs by veterans with spinal cord injuries [abstract]. SCI Psychosoc Process. 2007;20(1) . Taken from: Delta Society Web site. http://www. deltasociety.org/Document.Doc?id=442. Accessed January 20, 2017
Yeager AF, Irwin J. Rehabilitative canine interactions at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. US Army Med Dep J. 2012 Apr-Jun:57-60.