Study: Horses are the pioneer for reducing stress at dementia patients
Study: Horses are the pioneer for reducing stress at dementia patients
Reference
debelko-schoeny H., Phillips G., Darrough E. et al. Horse -based intervention for people with dementia. anthrozoos. 2014; 27 (1): 141-155.
Design
Randomized Pretest Post test crossover design, fur care, interaction with horses in an indoor arena and painting the horse with finger colors according to the traditions of the American indigenous people.
study participant
The study included 16 participants with the diagnosis of early to moderate Alzheimer's disease or dementia that visited a daily center for adults in a greater area in the middle west of the United States. The functional level was determined by the mini-mental state examination. The relationship between men and women was about 1: 1 and the majority of the participants were African Americans. This group was compared to a control group that received the usual treatment.
primary result dimensions
There were two results: the evaluation before and after the test on the scale for behavioral problems in nursing homes and the cortisol level in saliva, which usually increases and decreases when the stress conditions decrease.
most important knowledge
behavioral problems were lower in the intervention group compared to the control group. The measures assessed before and after the intervention showed that the participants on the days they worked with the horses showed less disturbing behavior in contrast to the control group. The cortisol level was increased after intervention by participants with higher results in the mini-mental state test. This measurement serves as a physiological measure for coping with stress.
effects on practice
In literature, there are more and more studies that examine the effect of animals, especially dogs, for the treatment of chronic social and behavioral problems in Alzheimer's and dementia. Positive results are found in the increase in social engagement and communication as well as in the acceptance of verbal aggression and anxiety interaction. 1,2 as well as a decrease in unrest, depression and sleep disorders. This paper is an excellent start. There are currently 5.4 million people with Alzheimer's disease in the United States, and by 2050 this number is expected to increase to 16 million people. 7 While none of our current therapies, neither therapeutic nor pharmaceutical, a lot helps, the studies mentioned above strongly indicate that interaction with a dog is helpful.
horses are the chemotherapy of animal -based therapy world, without toxicity.
Why should we keep a £ 2000 horse about in the world if a 70 -pound Labrador Retriever would work as well? I can tell you from my years of research with horses and children with cerebral palsy that horses have a much stronger presence than dogs, cats, goats or in my eyes. For this reason, they are used for diseases that range from mental and emotional to physical and intellectual disabilities. Horses are the chemotherapy of animal -based therapy world without toxicity. As far as I remember, no article that I have reviewed in the past 20 years was reported by a single sneeze with any subject - neither in an adult nor in a child. It is all the more surprising that none of the authors seem to be fathoming, which is probably the strongest clinical advantage of such therapies: patient motivation. Those among them who are parents or have a parent will testify to the willpower of a 4-year autistic child or an 84-year ancestor who does not want to take part in the therapy, but imagine the will of a child or an older person who does this absolutely wants to stroke a dog or maintain a horse. It turns out that the animal is only half of the hypothetical mechanism of action. The subject's passionate wish to participate is the other half.
That is why I would urgently ask you all doctors not to think about the need for endless confirmation studies and to transfer your patients, especially your pediatric and geriatric patients, to the nearest animal -assisted therapy center. Perhaps we can use the power of the market to promote research instead of the conventional path. Trust me; Your patients have nothing to lose - except maybe a lot of sorry.
- fuck km. The influence of an animal on the social interaction of nursing home inhabitants in a group. bin J. occupied Ther. 1993; 47 (6): 529-534.
- Fritz Cl, Farver TB, Kass Ph, Hart La. Association with pets and expression of non-cognitive symptoms in Alzheimer's patients. j nerve ment dis. 1995; 183 (7): 459-463.
- Kogan Lr. Effective animal intervention for long -term nurse. Activit adapt. 2001; 25 (1): 31-45.
- steed HN, Smith BS. Animal -based activities for geriatric patients. Activit adapt. 2003; 27 (1): 49-61.
- Richeson ne. Effects of animal -assisted therapy on restless behavior and social interactions of older adults with dementia. bin J Alzheimer's disease. 2003; 18 (6): 353-358.
- Filan SL, Llewellyn-Jones Rh. Animal -based therapy in dementia: a literature overview. int. Psychogeriatr. 2006; 18 (4): 597-611.
- Alzheimer's association. Facts and figures on Alzheimer's disease. Available around: http://www.alzheimers_disees_facts_factiges.asp . Access on July 10, 2014.