Animal-Assisted Therapy with Farm Animals for Persons with Psychiatric Disorders: Effects on Anxiety and Depression,a Randomized Controlled Trial |
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| Authors: | Bente Berget Øivind Ekeberg Ingeborg Pedersen Bjarne O Braastad |
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| Institution: | 1. Department of Animal and Aquacultural Sciences , Norwegian University of Life Sciences , ?s, Norway bente.berget@umb.no;3. Department of Behavioural Sciences in Medicine , University of Oslo , Oslo, Norway;4. Department of Animal and Aquacultural Sciences , Norwegian University of Life Sciences , ?s, Norway |
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| Abstract: | This study examined the effects of Animal-Assisted Therapy with farm animals during a 12 weeks' intervention on anxiety and depression among psychiatric patients by using a randomized controlled trial with a follow-up investigation at 6 months. Ninety adult patients were included, with 41 completers in the treatment group and 28 in the control group. Anxiety measured using Spielberger State Anxiety Inventory did not decrease significantly during the intervention for the treatment group but was significantly lower at follow-up compared with baseline (p = 0.002) and with the end of the intervention (p = 0.004). There was no significant change for the control group. Depression measured using Beck Depression Inventory was significantly lower at follow-up compared with baseline for both groups, but there were no significant differences between the groups. |
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| Keywords: | animal-assisted therapy anxiety depression farm animals psychiatric patients |
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