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SITE : “Best Service Dog Breeds for Anxiety”

 

Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) is a goal-directed addition of an animal as an integral part of the clinical treatment process.  It’s guided by a professional health or human service provider with the skill & expertise about the health applications of human-animal interactions.

EXP : Studies show that having a canine companion is linked to lower blood pressure, reduced cholesterol, & decreased triglyceride levels, which contribute to better overall cardio-vascular health & fewer heart attacks. Also, dog owners who do have heart attacks have better post-op survival rates.

Emotional Support & Psychiatric Service Dogs –  both types prescribe by a licensed mental health professional or doctor as part of their treatment plan. However, only PSDs are recognized as official ‘service animals’ under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
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ESA : Assigned to a specific person by a mental health practitioner to comfort an anxious person by its presence, but not for specific tasks, & which do not receive special training
PSA : a dog especially trained to perform many tasks directly related to their owner’s disability
T: a dog or other animal trained to provide comfort to the public in settings such as schools, ­libraries, nursing homes, & hospitals. Strict guidelines are followed by the handlers to ensure that the pet’s temperament & constitution are appropriate in the location.
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GROWTH : Attachment styles aren’t set in stone, so people can develop a secure attachment at any point in life – with various help, using therapy. For those who never had a safe attachment figure, opening up to another human, even a therapist, may feel dangerous. Ruth Lanius, PhD, recommends that Avoidant clients can be helped toward the goal of feeling safer internally & in the world – by interacting with an animal.

If the client has a pet, she suggests they spend time with them, focusing on the sensation of its fur, petting, cuddling, or just absorbing peaceful animal-energy from being near them. Forming a gentle, mindful connection with their animal can create positive feelings that starts to overwrite some of the fears about being close to humans.

And if the client doesn’t have a pet, Ruth suggests that even pictures or videos of a favorite animal – how they get along with each other & nurture their young – may widen the person’s window of tolerance for connections with other people.

Pet Therapy in Eating Disorder Treatment
Because animals offer variety of benefits to an ED patient’s recovery, many providers & facilities are incorporating them into their treatment plans. Whether it’s the more formalized animal-assisted therapy or having companion animals present, the values of pet therapy as a source of healing from EDs are considered important.

While conventional wisdom has long supported promoting human wellbeing from animal companionship, only recently has science investigated the restorative effect pets have in healing mental & medical problems.

While the effect of pets in ED treatment has not been studied widely, one can see where benefits would make sense. The most widely researched animals are cats, dogs, horses, & aquatics (dolphins), as well as a few studies on the benefits of birds & rabbits on human health & well-being.

Of the animals researched, dogs seem to have the greatest impact on humans. In one study, women in ED treatment found horses as well as dogs supportive in recovery – for experiencing the effects of their disorder, for emotional & relational connection, identity reformation, & thought management.

The women gained some sense of comfort, safety & protection – as they felt the animals could recognize their needs, provide unconditional & non-judgmental support & seemed to offer (perceived) protection (therapy animal benefits in ED recovery)

Review of 10 studies
Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) has been added to EDs treatment, with horses used in many residential facilities. AAT shows promise in randomized control trials (RCTs), showing significant decreases in depression, anxiety, & painful emotions.
The PRISMA methodology was used.  Therapy animals included 8 horses, 1 dog & 1 dolphin. Participants included patients, ages 11 to 64, & AAT with ED therapists.

RESULTS : Case & qualitative studies reported improvement in cognitive flexibility, ability to relinquish control, & confidence. Post-treatment quantitative studies showed an inverse relationship between AAT use and ED symptoms (more animal interaction = less disordered eating)

NEXT : Attachment & ANIMALS – Too Attached? (#6)