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Animals as therapy
The document discusses the physiological and psychological benefits of human-animal interaction (HAI), highlighting advancements in animal-assisted interventions (AAIs) and their applications in healthcare. It reviews the positive effects on physical health, mental wellbeing, and child development, emphasizing studies that show improved outcomes in various populations, including older adults, those with mental health issues, and children with autism. The document calls for further research to strengthen the understanding and efficacy of AAIs in clinical settings.
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Animals as therapy
- 1. Animals As Therapy RecentAdvances in Animal Science Conference Askham Bryan College Dr Sara Kelly Science Communications WALTHAM Centre for Pet Nutrition Proprietary information: Not to be reproduced or distributed without the express consent of Mars Inc. ©Mars 2016
- 2. Proprietary information: Notto be reproduced or distributed without the express consent of Mars Inc. ©Mars 2016 Overview • WALTHAM Centre for Pet Nutrition • Physiological and psychological benefits of human-animal interaction (HAI) – Pet ownership • Animals as therapy • AAI in special populations • MOA of AAIs • AAI research – the future
- 3. Proprietary information: Notto be reproduced or distributed without the express consent of Mars Inc. ©Mars 2016 WALTHAM Centre for Pet Nutrition • Fundamental scientific research centre (Mars Petcare) • Companion animal nutrition and welfare • Study of the human-animal bond and HAI • Support for HAI field – Funding and resources – National Institutes of Health (NIH) • NICHD Source: WALTHAM
- 4. Benefits of Human-Animal Interactionthrough pet ownership Proprietary information: Not to be reproduced or distributed without the express consent of Mars Inc. ©Mars 2016
- 5. Proprietary information: Notto be reproduced or distributed without the express consent of Mars Inc. ©Mars 2016 Pets and Physical Wellbeing • Positive association between pet ownership and 1 year survival rate following heart attack • Physiological indicators of health among older adults – Lower systolic BP – Lower triglyceride, cholesterol • Response to stress – Less cardiovascular reactivity – Faster recovery Source: Dollarclub stock photos Friedmann & Thomas, 1999. Am J Cardiology. Vol 76, 1213-1217.
- 6. Proprietary information: Notto be reproduced or distributed without the express consent of Mars Inc. ©Mars 2016 Pets and Psychological Wellbeing • Pet ownership helps people cope with psychological effects of stress • Pet ownership associated with less depression in men with HIV • Pet attachment related to ↓ depression – Older adults – Bereaved older-adults with less social support Siegel et al., 1999. AIDS Care. Vol 11; Garrity et al., 1989. Anthrozoos. Vol 3. Source: Dollarclub stock photos
- 7. Proprietary information: Notto be reproduced or distributed without the express consent of Mars Inc. ©Mars 2016 Healthy Child Development • Emotional support, comfort, confidantes • Development of positive behaviours (empathy, responsibility) • Higher levels of physical activity • Australian study – Young children (5-6yrs) less likely to be overweight/obese • ↓ allergies, stronger immune system – less school absence Source: Dollarclub stock photos Melson, 2001; Melson et al., 2009. Katcher & Beck, 1986
- 8. Proprietary information: Notto be reproduced or distributed without the express consent of Mars Inc. ©Mars 2016 Pets and Healthy Ageing • Preserving physical, mental, and social well being • Dogs are a motivator to remain active and to get outside • Social support • Pet attachment related to lower rates of recent illness Source: Dollarclub stock photos Krause-Parello 2012. Geriatric Nursing. 33, 194–203
- 9. Animals as Therapy Proprietaryinformation: Not to be reproduced or distributed without the express consent of Mars Inc. ©Mars 2016
- 10. Proprietary information: Notto be reproduced or distributed without the express consent of Mars Inc. ©Mars 2016 History of Animals in Healing 194410, 000 BC Humans-animals in therapeutic relationships 1860 Notes on nursing 1st scientific article 1980s Effects on human health Human-animal bond focus 1960s Visitation programmes 2008 WALTHAM NICHD partnership
- 11. Proprietary information: Notto be reproduced or distributed without the express consent of Mars Inc. ©Mars 2016 Introduction to AAI • Including animals in programmes to aid treatment of physical and psychological disorders • Dogs most common animal used • Cats, guinea pigs, cockatoos, birds, horses, goats, chickens, donkeys, pot-bellied pigs, Llamas, dolphins, fish aquaria Source: Dollarclub stock photos
- 12. Proprietary information: Notto be reproduced or distributed without the express consent of Mars Inc. ©Mars 2016 Spectrum of AAIs Animal-Assisted Interventions Animal-Assisted Activities Animal-Assisted Education Animal Hospital/Nursing Home Visit AAA for At-Risk or Delinquent Youth Animal-Assisted Therapy Animal-Assisted Psychotherapy Animal-Assisted Social work Animal-Assisted Physical/Speech Therapy Adapted from Fine et al., 2015. Handbook on Animal-Assisted Therapy
- 13. AAI Research inSpecial Populations Proprietary information: Not to be reproduced or distributed without the express consent of Mars Inc. ©Mars 2016
- 14. Proprietary information: Notto be reproduced or distributed without the express consent of Mars Inc. ©Mars 2016 Older People in Residential Care Loneliness • Cat, dog visitation programmes, bird care • Cognitively intact older adults in long-term care • Improvements in: – systolic and diastolic BP – perceived health • Self-care, anxiety, depression, physical functioning and life- satisfaction – loneliness – social interaction Burnstein et al., 2000. Anthrozoos. 13, 213-224. Long conversations Banks & Banks, 2002. J Gerontol. 57A, 428-432.
- 15. Proprietary information: Notto be reproduced or distributed without the express consent of Mars Inc. ©Mars 2016 Mental Health - Dementia • Need for non-pharmacological treatments • Dog therapy interventions – ↓ Agitated behaviour – ↑ Social interactions – ↓ Risk of fall accidents – ↑ Quality of life • Fish aquariums ↑ nutritional intake in Alzheimer’s disease • No effect on cognitive performance Source: Dollarclub stock photos Edwards & Beck, 2002. West J Nurs Res. 24, 697-712; Filan & Llewellyn-Jones, 2006. Int Psychogeriatr. 18:597-611 .
- 16. Proprietary information: Notto be reproduced or distributed without the express consent of Mars Inc. ©Mars 2016 Mental Health – Depression and Anxiety • Mild/moderate clinical depression, hospitalised patients with major depression, depressed adults in rehabilitation • AAT with caged birds, farm animals, dogs • RCT, follow up at 6 months – No significant change in anxiety during intervention – Anxiety significantly lower at follow up vs. baseline – No difference between groups for depression • Some studies have shown significant improvement in depression and anxiety scores as well as self-efficacy Pedersen et al., 2011. Issues in Mental Health Nursing. 32. 493-500
- 17. Proprietary information: Notto be reproduced or distributed without the express consent of Mars Inc. ©Mars 2016 Advanced Heart Failure Variable Volunteer dog vs. volunteer only, p value Systolic pulmonary artery pressure (mm Hg) 0.01 Pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (mm Hg) 0.003 Noradrenaline (pg ml) 0.02 Adrenaline (pg ml) 0.04 Cole et al., 2007. Am J Crit Care. vol. 16, 575-585 • Cardiopulmonary pressures, neuroendocrine levels • Dog visitation
- 18. Proprietary information: Notto be reproduced or distributed without the express consent of Mars Inc. ©Mars 2016 Children and Adolescents • Equine facilitated learning – ↓ salivary cortisol levels • Therapeutic horse riding in autism – ↓ Irritability – ↓ Hyperactivity – ↑ Social cognition – ↑ Social communication – ↑ Words spoken • Canine intervention in ADHD – ↑ Social skills – ↑ Prosocial behaviours – ↓ problematic behaviours Pendry et al., 2014. HAI Bull. Vol2, 80-95; Gabriels et al., 2015. J Am Acad Child Adol Psyc. Vol 54, 541–549. Schuck et al., 2013 JAD. Source: Dollarclub stock photos
- 19. Proprietary information: Notto be reproduced or distributed without the express consent of Mars Inc. ©Mars 2016 Mechanisms Of Action of AAIs • Physiological state of relaxation + increased attention1 • Form of stress- reducing or stress- buffering social support2
- 20. Proprietary information: Notto be reproduced or distributed without the express consent of Mars Inc. ©Mars 2016 AAI Research – The Future • Need for methodologically stronger studies of effects on variety of biophysical and psychosocial outcomes • Further research – MOA – Settings – Characteristics and species of animals – Conditions – Other special populations (cancer, AIDS, children) • Further RCTs are necessary – Improved quality – Reporting of efficacy data, adverse events
- 21. Proprietary information: Notto be reproduced or distributed without the express consent of Mars Inc. ©Mars 2016 Summary • AAIs have historically been beneficial to health • Integrative approach to enhance treatment of various health concerns • Moderate effects in improving outcomes – Medical difficulties – Mental and behavioural disorders – Autism-spectrum symptoms • Opportunities for further implementation into health care • Further high quality research required
- 22. For more information…… Followus: @Waltham_science Visit: www.waltham.com Evolution of Research into the Mutual Benefits of Human-Animal Interaction. Animal Frontiers, 2014, Vol 4, issue 3, pages 49-58.
- 23. Proprietary information: Notto be reproduced or distributed without the express consent of Mars Inc. ©Mars 2016 Thank you