Effects of an animal-assisted intervention on psychiatric in-patient addiction treatment - a pilot study

ObjectiveAnimal-assisted therapies, especially with therapy dogs, are getting increasingly popular in inpatient psychiatric treatment. In the present pilot study, we examined how chronic and comorbid patients in psychiatric addiction treatment assess this form of therapeutic support. Methods Pre-post-evaluation of the intervention variable therapy dog in a prospective, naturalistic setting. Without intervention 50 patients, with intervention 52 patients were requested to answer a questionnaire on topics covering social interaction/ward atmosphere, emotional competences and pathological addiction behavior. Results The two studied groups differed highly significantly in most of the items on the topics social interaction/ward atmosphere, emotionality and addiction pathology, in favor of animal-assisted therapy. Also, the frequency of smoking and dealing with craving were significantly reduced in this group.Effect sizes were medium to high. Conclusions Patients consider the presence of a therapy dog on a psychiatric addiction ward very positively. Ward atmosphere is experienced as more pleasant and patients see a possibility of behavioral change with respect to social and emotional competences.