Implementation of Assisted Therapy With Dogs in the Therapeutic Approach to People With Autistic Spectrum Disorder.
01 Sep 2020-Holistic Nursing Practice (Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health))-Vol. 34, Iss: 5, pp 282-290
TL;DR: A holistic intervention is needed for individuals who suffer from autism spectrum disorders through the use of animal-assisted therapy, finding improvements in the experimental group as compared with the control group in the different evaluated areas.
Abstract: A holistic intervention is needed for individuals who suffer from autism spectrum disorders. Our objective was to work with these individuals in a multidisciplinary manner through the use of animal-assisted therapy, finding improvements in the experimental group as compared with the control group in the different evaluated areas.
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TL;DR: Overall, these studies showed improvements in social functioning following equine-assisted or therapeutic horse-riding interventions, with initial evidence showing improvements are sustained in the short and medium term, however, several issues were identified, which limit the strength of any conclusions that can be drawn from this evidence.
Abstract: The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the effect of animal-assisted interventions on social functioning in children with autism spectrum disorder, based on evidence from randomized control trials. Included studies were articles published in English, with school aged children from 4 to 18 years with autism spectrum disorder. Databases searched were MEDLINE, PsycINFO, EMBASE, Web of Science, CINAHL and Zoological Record. Data extraction from included studies included demographics and sample features, interventions and controls descriptions, outcome measures, study funding and descriptive statistics. Risk of bias was assessed, considering randomization, allocation concealment, blinding, attrition, selective reporting and other sources of bias. Studies were synthesized narratively based on the animal approach taken and the use of waitlist versus active controls. Nine studies were included reporting across eight trials. Studies overall reported improvements in social functioning following equine-assisted services, with preliminary evidence suggesting improvements are sustained in the short and medium term. Insufficient evidence was available to draw conclusions on the efficacy of other animal-assisted interventions. Future research should aim to address the limitations common to included designs. Lay abstract Children with autism typically experience difficulties interacting socially with others when compared to their non-autistic peers. Establishing how effective interventions are for improving social functioning is important to help inform what should be offered to children with autism. This study reviewed how effective interventions that involved interaction with a live animal, known as animal-assisted interventions, are in improving social functioning in children with autism. A systematic search of the evidence on this topic found nine studies, which were explored for the effectiveness of animal-assisted interventions and the quality of methods used. Overall, these studies showed improvements in social functioning following equine-assisted or therapeutic horse-riding interventions, with initial evidence showing improvements are sustained in the short and medium term. However, several issues were identified, which limit the strength of any conclusions that can be drawn from this evidence. For example, in many studies people assessing the children were aware that they received the intervention or were in a control group. There was also not enough evidence available to draw conclusions on the effectiveness of other animal-assisted interventions. Future research should address the limitations that were common in the designs of these studies and investigate the potential benefit of other animal populations, such as dogs and cats.
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TL;DR: In this article , a systematic scoping review was carried out to present the existing literature employing canine-assisted therapy in the diverse population of neurodevelopmental disorders using the Arksey and O'Malley framework for scoping reviews.
1 citations
TL;DR: In this article , a systematic review examined the impacts of therapy dogs on the social and emotional wellbeing of K-12 students, concluding that therapy dogs may enhance students' mood and positive emotionality, social and communication skills, confidence and their relationship with teachers.
Abstract: ABSTRACT Objective This systematic review examined the impacts of therapy dogs on the social and emotional wellbeing of K-12 students. Procedure Five electronic databases (PsycINFO, Informit A+ Education, PubMed, Web of Science and ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global) were searched to find English language, grey literature and peer-reviewed articles up to November 2020. Results A narrative synthesis of 23 articles indicated that therapy dogs may enhance students’ mood and positive emotionality, social and communication skills, confidence and their relationship with teachers. Inconsistently, other studies reported that therapy dogs may not enhance the social and emotional wellbeing of students. Conclusion The current research is characterised by methodological limitations and an over-reliance on the perceptions of students and teachers. To enhance the quality and reliability of the evidence, future researchers are encouraged to adopt more rigorous methodologies with larger sample sizes and control procedures. It is also recommended that the perceptions of school leaders, other educational personnel and interdisciplinary health professionals are incorporated into future studies. This may contribute to a greater level of consensus in the educational sector about the impacts of therapy dogs on the social and emotional wellbeing of K-12 students.
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TL;DR: This article discusses the TEACCH program as an example of an evidence-based practice in light of recent formulations of the concept by the American Psychological Association and Kazdin.
Abstract: 'Evidence-based practice' as initially defined in medicine and adult psychotherapy had limited applicability to autism interventions, but recent elaborations of the concept by the American Psychological Association (Am Psychol 61: 271-285, 2006) and Kazdin (Am Psychol 63(1):146-159, 2008) have increased its relevance to our field. This article discusses the TEACCH program (of which the first author is director) as an example of an evidence-based practice in light of recent formulations of that concept.
232 citations
TL;DR: This investigation compared language use and social interaction in children with autism receiving two forms of occupational therapy: occupational therapy using standard techniques, and occupational therapy incorporating animals.
Abstract: This investigation compared language use and social interaction in children with autism receiving two forms of occupational therapy: occupational therapy using standard techniques, and occupational therapy incorporating animals. Twenty-two children between the ages of 7 and 13 received both forms of therapy in a school-based occupational therapy program for children with autism. Results suggest that the children demonstrated significantly greater use of language and significantly greater social interaction in sessions incorporating animals when compared to sessions using exclusively standard occupational therapy techniques. Findings are discussed in the context of recent research that has highlighted the importance of enhancing the motivation of children with autism to engage actively in therapeutic and learning processes.
193 citations
TL;DR: The results show that the CAR of children with ASD is sensitive to the presence of service Dogs, which lends support to the potential behavioral benefits of service dogs for children with autism.
180 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the efficacy of Equine Assisted Counseling (EAC) by comparing EAC to classroom-based counseling was demonstrated. But, the EAC group made statistically significant improvements in 17 behavior areas, whereas the RD group showed statistically significant improvement in 5 areas.
Abstract: This study demonstrates the efficacy of Equine Assisted Counseling (EAC) by comparing EAC to classroom-based counseling. Stu- dents (n = 164) identified as being at high risk for academic and/or social failure participated in 12 weekly counseling sessions. Within-group paired sample t-test results comparing pre- and post-treatment scores for external- izing, internalizing, maladaptive, and adaptive behaviors determined that the EAC made statistically significant improvements in 17 behavior areas, whereas the RD group showed statistically significant improvement in 5 areas. Between-groups ANCOVA results indicated that the EAC showed statistically significant improvement in 7 areas when compared directly to RD. Repeated measures ANOVA of the EAC participants' social behavior
169 citations
TL;DR: Although the studies described here are encouraging, further research with better designs and using larger samples is needed to strengthen translation of such interventions to the clinic and potential applications of analyzing child-dog interactions are highlighted to screen for early signs of the disorder.
Abstract: Background: Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are characterized by deficits in social reciprocity and communication, and by unusually restricted, repetitive behaviors. Intervention strategies based on the exploitation of the emotional aspects of human–dog relationships hold the potential to overcome the difficulty of subjects with ASD to relate and interact effectively with others, targeting core symptoms of this disorder. Methods: This review summarizes the results of six published studies on the effects of brief interactions with dogs and the effects of introducing dogs in families with a child diagnosed with ASD, with an emphasis on social behaviors and language use. Furthermore, the possible mechanisms responsible for the beneficial effects observed are discussed. Conclusions: Although the studies described here are encouraging, further research with better designs and using larger samples is needed to strengthen translation of such interventions to the clinic. In addition, potential applicatio...
137 citations