Can Dog-Assisted Intervention Decrease Anxiety Level and Autonomic Agitation in Patients with Anxiety Disorders?
Few studies have explored the influence of an Animal-Assisted Intervention on patients with mental disorders. We investigated it’s impact on anxiety symptoms. We divided 51 patients with anxiety symptoms into two groups—treatment group, that went for a short 15–20 min’ walk with a dog, his handler a...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-11-01
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| Series: | Journal of Clinical Medicine |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/10/21/5171 |
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| author | Dorota Wołyńczyk-Gmaj Aleksandra Ziółkowska Piotr Rogala Dawid Ścigała Ludwik Bryła Bartłomiej Gmaj Marcin Wojnar |
| author_facet | Dorota Wołyńczyk-Gmaj Aleksandra Ziółkowska Piotr Rogala Dawid Ścigała Ludwik Bryła Bartłomiej Gmaj Marcin Wojnar |
| author_sort | Dorota Wołyńczyk-Gmaj |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Few studies have explored the influence of an Animal-Assisted Intervention on patients with mental disorders. We investigated it’s impact on anxiety symptoms. We divided 51 patients with anxiety symptoms into two groups—treatment group, that went for a short 15–20 min’ walk with a dog, his handler and a researcher and control group, that went for a walk only with a researcher. We used State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) of fear, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Ford Insomnia Response to Stress (FIRST), Brief symptom Inventory (BSI) and VAS of satisfaction after trial to assess. We also checked the resting blood pressure and resting heart rate before and after performing psychological tests while sitting. We have obtained full data of 21 people from the research group and 26 people from the control group. After the intervention, the treatment group reported lower anxiety levels as a state (Mean (M) = 34.35; Standard Deviation (SD) = 6.9 vs. M = 40.94; SD = 8.6) and fear (M = 1.05; SD = 1.0 vs. M = 2.04; SD = 2.2) than the control group. After a walk with a dog, trait anxiety (M = 34.35; SD = 6.9 vs. M = 46.3; SD = 9.6), state anxiety (M = 48.9; SD = 7.2 vs. M = 53.9; SD = 7.8), fear (M = 1.05; SD= 1.0 vs. M = 2.57; SD = 2.3) and resting heart rate (M = 71.05; SD = 12.3 vs. M = 73.67; SD = 13.1) decreased significantly, while walking without a dog only reduced state anxiety (M = 47.24; SD = 11.0 vs. M = 40.94; SD = 8.6). Multivariate analysis of variance showed that after the walk, state anxiety was significantly lower in the treatment group than in the control group, F(1.35) = 6.706, <i>p</i> <0.05, <i>η<sup>2</sup></i> = 0.161. Among those who walked with a dog, the intervention also led to significant decreases in fear and resting heart rate, F(1.44) = 11.694, <i>p</i> < 0.01, <i>η<sup>2</sup></i> = 0.210 and F(1.45) = 8.503; <i>p <</i> 0.01; <i>η<sup>2</sup></i> = 0.159, respectively. For anxious patients, a short walk with a dog is more beneficial than a walk without one. We found significant positive effects of a dog’s company on vegetative arousal and mental comfort. This is another study confirming the possible therapeutic effect of the animal on anxiety symptoms. Further research is required, especially in the large groups of patients, as recommendations on the use of Animal Assisted Interventions (AAI) are needed. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T05:58:41Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-525b11b95fc5419d80fc7d132df9d11e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2077-0383 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T05:58:41Z |
| publishDate | 2021-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Clinical Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-525b11b95fc5419d80fc7d132df9d11e2023-11-22T21:08:23ZengMDPI AGJournal of Clinical Medicine2077-03832021-11-011021517110.3390/jcm10215171Can Dog-Assisted Intervention Decrease Anxiety Level and Autonomic Agitation in Patients with Anxiety Disorders?Dorota Wołyńczyk-Gmaj0Aleksandra Ziółkowska1Piotr Rogala2Dawid Ścigała3Ludwik Bryła4Bartłomiej Gmaj5Marcin Wojnar6Department of Psychiatry, Medical University of Warsaw, 00-665 Warsaw, PolandDepartment of Psychiatry, Medical University of Warsaw, 00-665 Warsaw, PolandDepartment of Psychiatry, Medical University of Warsaw, 00-665 Warsaw, PolandInstitute of Psychology, The Maria Grzegorzewska University, 02-353 Warsaw, PolandOddział XIII Dzienny Zaburzeń Nerwicowych Szpitala Nowowiejskiego, 00-773 Warsaw, PolandDepartment of Psychiatry, Medical University of Warsaw, 00-665 Warsaw, PolandDepartment of Psychiatry, Medical University of Warsaw, 00-665 Warsaw, PolandFew studies have explored the influence of an Animal-Assisted Intervention on patients with mental disorders. We investigated it’s impact on anxiety symptoms. We divided 51 patients with anxiety symptoms into two groups—treatment group, that went for a short 15–20 min’ walk with a dog, his handler and a researcher and control group, that went for a walk only with a researcher. We used State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) of fear, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Ford Insomnia Response to Stress (FIRST), Brief symptom Inventory (BSI) and VAS of satisfaction after trial to assess. We also checked the resting blood pressure and resting heart rate before and after performing psychological tests while sitting. We have obtained full data of 21 people from the research group and 26 people from the control group. After the intervention, the treatment group reported lower anxiety levels as a state (Mean (M) = 34.35; Standard Deviation (SD) = 6.9 vs. M = 40.94; SD = 8.6) and fear (M = 1.05; SD = 1.0 vs. M = 2.04; SD = 2.2) than the control group. After a walk with a dog, trait anxiety (M = 34.35; SD = 6.9 vs. M = 46.3; SD = 9.6), state anxiety (M = 48.9; SD = 7.2 vs. M = 53.9; SD = 7.8), fear (M = 1.05; SD= 1.0 vs. M = 2.57; SD = 2.3) and resting heart rate (M = 71.05; SD = 12.3 vs. M = 73.67; SD = 13.1) decreased significantly, while walking without a dog only reduced state anxiety (M = 47.24; SD = 11.0 vs. M = 40.94; SD = 8.6). Multivariate analysis of variance showed that after the walk, state anxiety was significantly lower in the treatment group than in the control group, F(1.35) = 6.706, <i>p</i> <0.05, <i>η<sup>2</sup></i> = 0.161. Among those who walked with a dog, the intervention also led to significant decreases in fear and resting heart rate, F(1.44) = 11.694, <i>p</i> < 0.01, <i>η<sup>2</sup></i> = 0.210 and F(1.45) = 8.503; <i>p <</i> 0.01; <i>η<sup>2</sup></i> = 0.159, respectively. For anxious patients, a short walk with a dog is more beneficial than a walk without one. We found significant positive effects of a dog’s company on vegetative arousal and mental comfort. This is another study confirming the possible therapeutic effect of the animal on anxiety symptoms. Further research is required, especially in the large groups of patients, as recommendations on the use of Animal Assisted Interventions (AAI) are needed.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/10/21/5171animal assisted intervention (AAI)dogsdogotheraphyanxietyanxiety disorders treatmentheart rate |
| spellingShingle | Dorota Wołyńczyk-Gmaj Aleksandra Ziółkowska Piotr Rogala Dawid Ścigała Ludwik Bryła Bartłomiej Gmaj Marcin Wojnar Can Dog-Assisted Intervention Decrease Anxiety Level and Autonomic Agitation in Patients with Anxiety Disorders? Journal of Clinical Medicine animal assisted intervention (AAI) dogs dogotheraphy anxiety anxiety disorders treatment heart rate |
| title | Can Dog-Assisted Intervention Decrease Anxiety Level and Autonomic Agitation in Patients with Anxiety Disorders? |
| title_full | Can Dog-Assisted Intervention Decrease Anxiety Level and Autonomic Agitation in Patients with Anxiety Disorders? |
| title_fullStr | Can Dog-Assisted Intervention Decrease Anxiety Level and Autonomic Agitation in Patients with Anxiety Disorders? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Can Dog-Assisted Intervention Decrease Anxiety Level and Autonomic Agitation in Patients with Anxiety Disorders? |
| title_short | Can Dog-Assisted Intervention Decrease Anxiety Level and Autonomic Agitation in Patients with Anxiety Disorders? |
| title_sort | can dog assisted intervention decrease anxiety level and autonomic agitation in patients with anxiety disorders |
| topic | animal assisted intervention (AAI) dogs dogotheraphy anxiety anxiety disorders treatment heart rate |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/10/21/5171 |
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