Animal-assisted therapy and the severely disabled child: a quantitative study - Graduate Literary Award Winner - Abstract

Journal of Rehabilitation, Oct-Dec, 2001 by Kathryn Heimlich

For centuries, the importance of animals in people's lives has been recognized (Netting, Wilson & New, 1987; All & Loving, 1999). As a work assistant or simple companion, the contribution of animals to enhanced quality of human life has been documented, both formally and informally, throughout the ages. York Retreat in England, an establishment founded by the Quakers for persons with mental illness, is attributed as the first recorded therapeutic setting where animals were utilized as adjuncts to therapy (Netting, et al., 1987). But it was the work of Boris Levinson, a psychologist who discovered that he could reach a disturbed child during therapy sessions when his dog, Jingles, was present, that initiated the momentum of scientific research into the role of pets as therapeutic agents (Mallon, 1992). Based upon his publications, both the scientific and lay communities became aware of the possibilities of using animals to enhance the therapeutic outcomes of humans. The work of Levinson and others laid the groundwork for a new field of human service, pet therapy (Mallon, 1992).

Early pet therapy programs were often staffed by volunteers who brought their pets into hospitals, nursing homes and other long-term care facilities on a regular basis (Hines & Fredrickson, 1998; Netting, et al., 1987). These programs were designed to facilitate positive therapeutic outcomes or simply to improve the quality of life of patients or residents (Hines & Fredrickson, 1998; Mallon, 1992). Through informal and unstructured pet visitation, children, adults and the elderly with disabilities or chronic illness were presumed to benefit from this ... "integrated holistic approach to the care and rehabilitation of individuals and their families ..." (All & Loving, 1999).

Studies investigating the easily measurable physical effects of human-animal interaction have determined that pets are effective in reducing blood pressure (Katcher, 1981; Messent, 1983; Serpell, 1990; Anderson, Reid, & Jennings, 1992) and promoting survival in coronary artery illness (Friedmann, Katcher, Lynch & Thomas, 1980; Jennings, Reid, Christy, Jennings, Anderson, Dart, 1998). Hippotherapy, or therapeutic riding, has been found to promote postural improvement and balance in patients with movement disorders (Weber, Pfotenhauer, David, Leyerer, Rimpau, Aldridge, Reissenweber, & Fachner, 1994).

When utilized as an adjunct to therapy for elderly individuals residing in hospitals and nursing homes, animals have served as an attention-getting stimulus and an object of conversation (Barba, 1995; Fick, 1992; Savishinsky, 1992; Rossbach & Wilson, 1992; Gammonley & Yates, 1991). Pet visitation has also been found to produce measurable benefits by fostering socialization, increasing responsiveness, facilitating mental alertness and enhancing an outward focus on the environment (Proulx, 1998; Bernstein, Friedmann & Malaspina, 1995; Fritz, Farver, Kass & Hart, 1995; Holcomb & Meacham, 1989; Jessen, Cardiello & Baun, 1996; Savishinsky, 1992). Although others have reported contradictory results, incidental positive effects were still noted. It was determined that the animals' presence had a positive impact on the attitude of staff, resulting in improved interaction with patients due to reduced caregiver stress (Taylor, Maser, Yee & Gonzalez, 1993; Zissleman, Rovner, Shmuely & Ferrie, 1995).

These findings are not atypical of those found by other researchers involved in the treatment of institutionalized persons who exhibit self-isolating behaviors. Mallon (1994) investigated the effects of placing a dog in a residential facility for children diagnosed with emotional disorders. He concluded that the dog provided social, emotional and physical benefits for both the children and the staff. In addition, the children, who had been recipients of nurturance, began to exhibit nurturing behaviors themselves. Caring for an animal's needs is believed responsible for the emergence of these interactive and socially appropriate behaviors (Mallon, 1994; Edney, 1995; Karcher & Wilkens, 1994; Melson, 1989; Netting, et al., 1987).

Utilization of animals to produce desirable educational or cognitive goals has been less clearly measured (Hines & Fredrickson, 1998). Of particular interest are clinical studies that provide quantifiable effects of animal-assisted therapy interventions and their effect on cognitive improvement in children with developmental disabilities. Improvement in cognitive functioning in this group, although less easily measured, is a worthy research endeavor and may be objectively studied when specific goal areas are addressed. It was the purpose of this study to provide an objective format for evaluating the effectiveness of an animal-assisted therapy program on the therapeutic outcomes of children with multiple disabilities residing in a long-term care facility. In cooperation with the Hope School in Springfield, Illinois, the current project was conducted during the 1996-1997 academic year. Using a multiple baseline design, an attempt was made to quantitatively measure the therapeutic outcomes of children presented with an AAT program over a two-month period.