Curriculum-Based Animal-Assisted Therapy in an Acute Outpatient Mental Health Setting

This study examined the utility of this manualized curriculum as a supplemental component of a pediatric intensive behavioral health treatment program for children with a range of psychiatric conditions. Patients, psychiatrists, and caregivers completed assessments o f children’s (N = 22) symptoms before and after treatment, with analyses investigating the difference in symptoms for patients who received animal-assisted therapy (AAT) as a part of their treatment and patients who did not. Patients also completed mood scores before and after group sessions w ith and without a therapy dog present. Results indicate that AAT may be an effective adjunct to standard care in a pediatric setting. The success of AAT alongside behavioral treatment led to reduction in symptoms and improvement in mood for patients. These findings support previous research indicati ng the efficacy of using a manualized curriculum and the advantages of using dogs as part of treatment to supplement behavioral health services.
Source: Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research