Human-Animal Bond Generated in a Brief Animal-Assisted Therapy Intervention in Adolescents with Mental Health Disorders

Maylos Rodrigo-Claverol; Marta Manuel-Canals; Luis Lucio Lobato-Rincón; Natalia Rodriguez-Criado; Maite Roman-Casenave; Elisabet Musull-Dulcet; Esther Rodrigo-Claverol; Josep Pifarré; Yvette Miró-Bernaus

doi:10.3390/ani13030358

Human-Animal Bond Generated in a Brief Animal-Assisted Therapy Intervention in Adolescents with Mental Health Disorders

Animals (Basel). 2023 Jan 20;13(3):358. doi: 10.3390/ani13030358.

Affiliations

¹ Primary Health Care Center Bordeta-Magraners, Catalan Institute of Health, 25001 Lleida, Spain.
² Ilerkan Association, 25005 Lleida, Spain.
³ Santa Maria University Hospital, 25198 Lleida, Spain.
⁴ Animal-Assisted Intervention Office, Rey Juan Carlos University, Móstoles, 28933 Madrid, Spain.
⁵ San Carlos University Clinical Hospital, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
⁶ Mataró Hospital of Consorci Sanitari del Maresme UHA, 08304 Mataró, Spain.
⁷ ITCAN Dog Assisted Interventions, 08348 Cabril, Spain.
⁸ Primary Health Care Center Primer de Maig, Catalan Institute of Health, 25003 Lleida, Spain.
⁹ Institute for Biomedical Research in Lleida Dr. Pifarré Foundation (IRBLleida), 25198 Lleida, Spain.
¹⁰ San Juan de Dios Provincia de España, 25001 Lleida, Spain.

Abstract

Background: The human-animal bond is crucial for the proper development of animal-assisted therapy (AAT) sessions. However, in specific cases such as in AAT focused on psychiatric patients who are admitted to acute units, there is only a short period of time available to establish this bond.

Objectives: To assess the degree of HAB generated after two AAT sessions in adolescents admitted to acute psychiatry units.

Methods: A prospective multicenter cohort study aimed at adolescents aged 13 to 17 years admitted to the acute child and adolescent psychiatry unit of three hospitals.

Intervention: Two weekly 1 h group sessions of AAT with therapy dogs.

Main outcome: The Center for the Study of Animal Wellness Pet Bonding Scale Survey (CSAWPB).

Results: One hundred and fourteen adolescents participated. A positive perception of the dog was generated, achieving a good level of bonding and attachment.

Conclusions: The results obtained make it possible to affirm that a short period of time is enough to establish a good HAB between patients and therapy dogs. This study aims to contribute to the study of non-pharmacological interventions as a complement to pharmacological treatments in adolescents with mental health disorders.

Keywords: adolescent psychiatry; animal-assisted therapy; hospital; mental health; non-pharmaceutical interventions; youth.

Grants and funding

This research received the collaboration of the Universidad Rey Juan Carlos de Madrid Office of Animal-Assisted Interventions to carry out the intervention in the Hospital Universitario Niño Jesús of Madrid and of Nestlé Purina PetCare España for the dissemination of the results, assuming the costs of translation and publication of the article.