Animal-Assisted Therapy: Improving Emotional and Behavioral Symptoms in Dementia Patients, Ejercicios de Idioma Inglés

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Animal assisted therapy for dementia

Group: Midday

Summary In recent years, animal assisted therapy (AAT) has been investigated, and it has been used in rehabilitation of different pathologies, and usually dogs, cats, horses, and birds are used for this kind of therapy. Studies have shown that the interaction of the patient with the animals promotes self-esteem and has benefits for mental and physical health. In addition, with this interaction, the levels of cortisol decreased and therefore stress levels also decreased. Kanamori et al studied 27 elderly people with dementia and they separated people in two groups: control and experimental. In the experimental group 7 people did AAT two time per week for 6 months, and as a result at 3 months the Alzheimer Disease Scale decreased significantly. Another study done, wants to check the efficacy of ATT on agitation/aggression and depression in elderly people living in residences with unspecified dementia. The 27 elderly people in the experimental group did traditional treatment (like people in the control group) and AAT for 10 weeks. It was observed that the frequency and severity of agitation/aggression doesn't get worse, and the level of depression improves. In conclusion, AAT helps to improve emotional, behavioral, and psychological symptoms in patients with dementia, and facilitates social and communication skills, but nowadays, there aren’t definitive conclusions yet. Peluso, S., De Rosa, A., De Lucia, N., Antenora, A., Illario, M., Esposito, M., & De Michele, G. (2018). Animal-assisted therapy in elderly patients: Evidence and controversies in dementia and psychiatric disorders and future perspectives in other neurological diseases. Journal of geriatric psychiatry and neurology , 31 (3), 149-157.

more effective and objective. On the other hand, it is also true that this therapy is non-invasive and doesn't need any pharmacology. This last fact, in our opinion, is very important because we as a psychologist can’t medicate anyone, and this kind of therapy could help us to do our work better. We are sure that in the following years much more will be investigated to make AAT more effective so it can help more people.

Appendix Outline Introduction

• In recent years, animal assisted therapy has been investigated, and it has been used in the rehabilitation of different pathologies.
• Usually, dogs, cats, horses, and birds are used for this kind of therapy
• We can find structured programs with specific objectives, for example rehabilitation (AAT), or recreational programs that help people to improve social skills (animal assisted activities).
• The interaction of the patient with the animal promotes self-esteem and has benefits for mental and physical health.
• Contact with the pet reduces cortisol production which is the stress hormone Method and results
• We will explain two scientific studies that related animal assisted therapy with benefits of dementia.
• The first study is from Kanamori et al and they studied 27 elderly people who have senile dementia, and they formed two groups, control and experimental
• 7 patients went to an experimental group, and they did animal assisted therapy two times per week for 6 months.
• At 3 months Alzheimer Disease Scale decreased significantly in these patients
• The second study wants to check the efficacy of ATT on agitation/aggression and depression in elderly people living in residences with dementia.
• 27 people went to control group, and they did traditional treatment
• 27 elderly people went to an experimental group, and they did traditional treatment and AAT for 10 weeks.
• The frequency and severity of agitation/aggression in experimental group doesn’t get worse, and the level of depression improves

Bibliography Kanamori M, Suzuki M, Yamamoto K, et al. A day care program and evaluation of animal-assisted therapy (AAT) for the elderly with senile dementia. Am J Alzheimers Dis Other Demen. 2001; 16(4):234-239. Lai, N. M., Chang, S. M. W., Ng, S. S., Tan, S. L., Chaiyakunapruk, N., & Stanaway, F. (2019). Animal‐assisted therapy for dementia. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews , (11). Majic ́ T, Gutzmann H, Heinz A, Lang UE, Rapp MA. Animal- assisted therapy and agitation and depression in nursing home residents with dementia: a matched case-control trial. Am J Ger- iatr Psychiatry. 2013;21(11):1052-1059. Mossello E, Ridolfi A, Mello AM, et al. Animal assisted activity and emotional status of patients with Alzheimer’s disease in day care. Int Psychogeriatr. 2011;23(6):899- Peluso, S., De Rosa, A., De Lucia, N., Antenora, A., Illario, M., Esposito, M., & De Michele, G. (2018). Animal-assisted therapy in elderly patients: Evidence and controversies in dementia and psychiatric disorders and future perspectives in other neurological diseases. Journal of geriatric psychiatry and neurology , 31 (3), 149-157.