Summary: Animal Assisted Therapy (HDT) is the inclusion of animals, specially trained by experts in the field, in the treatment to provide ...
Summary:
Animal Assisted Therapy (HDT) is the inclusion of animals, specially trained by experts in the field, in the treatment to provide psychological and physiological support to the patient during the treatment process. The basic principle of HDT is based on the idea that human-animal interaction creates psychological, physical and social changes in the person. HDT, which has become increasingly known and used especially in recent years, can be used with many different treatment and rehabilitation methods.
Animal Assisted Therapy (HDT) is the inclusion of animals, specially trained by experts in the field, in the treatment to provide psychological and physiological support to the patient during the treatment process. HDT is a method that has been used long before recorded history, but the first recorded application was made by William Tuke in 1792 for farm animals and mental patients. The first study conducted with dogs and cats, called pets, was tried in West Germany in 1867 in the treatment of epilepsy patients. [one]
HDT applications can be performed using various animals, especially cats, dogs, horses, dolphins, rabbits, birds and farm animals. HDT can be applied through various animals and can also be used in the treatment of many diseases. Today, it can be said that HDT has been added as an auxiliary component to the treatment process of autism spectrum disorder, suppression of epileptic seizures and various psychological diseases.
1. Human and Animal Interaction
Human and animal interaction is a relationship that dates back to ancient times. Ancient people saw animals as companions and protectors, and they often resorted to communication with animals by getting help in situations such as finding direction and tracking. Over time, human-animal coexistence has developed, and with the increase in the number of studies observing the behavior of animals, the number and diversity of domesticated animals has also increased. Nowadays, owning pets and seeing them as family members has become an increasingly common practice. Studies show that owning a pet has positive effects on psychology. [2]
Animal behavior is a situation where human-animal interaction can be observed concretely. If an animal is subjected to violence or left hungry and thirsty by the person it lives with or communicates with, it feels fearful of him and perceives him as a threat. On the other hand, the animal will be more calm and peaceful towards a person who is self-confident, balanced and free from violent movements.
2. Basis of Animal Assisted Therapy
The effects of HDT can be explained by different hypotheses. The most common of these hypotheses is Wilson's Biophilia Hypothesis.
2.1. Biophilia Hypothesis
He argues that the desire to be close to stimuli such as water, plants, animals, animal sounds and animal movements exists from birth. The bond between humans and other living creatures can be defined as an instinctive bond. Therefore, this bond is thought to have two therapeutic effects.
2.2. Learning Theory
In this theory, one or more stimuli and the response to the stimulus(s) are mentioned. If the response to the stimulus creates a feeling of satisfaction in the person being stimulated, the frequency of repetition of the response tends to increase. If the stimulus creates a negative reaction, it causes the person being stimulated to reach different results through trial and error. This theory can be defined as a person feeling more peaceful by diverting his/her attention from the symptoms of the disease that cause unease (e.g. stress and anxiety) to interacting with an animal.
2.3. Psychoanalytic Theory
It is defined as the reflection of a person's feelings and thoughts that he cannot make sense of on real or unreal figures. According to this theory, the aim is to embody the emotions that a person cannot understand by reflecting them on real or imaginary animals.
2.4. Attachment Theory
In this theory, developed by John Bowlby and his mother Mary Ainsworth, where the mother was primarily stated as the attachment object, later different attachment objects such as father, older sibling, grandmother/grandfather and caregivers were studied. Researchers who study the bond between humans and animals state that animals can sometimes be objects of attachment that provide security and calmness, especially for children. [4]
3. Mechanism(s) of Animal Assisted Therapy
The basic principle of HDT is based on the idea that human-animal interaction creates psychological, physical and social changes in the person. These changes are based on different mechanisms.
3.1. Cognitive-Affective Mechanism
It is thought to be the most effective mechanism in human-animal interaction. The stronger the emotional attachment, the greater the positive effects of HDT. [3] The strong bond between humans and animals increases the release of epinephrine and corticosteroids
3.2. Game Mechanism
By increasing an individual's physical activity, healing potential increases when that individual plays with an animal.
3.3. Physical Mechanism
Activities such as swimming with dolphins, playing with dogs or going for a horse ride aim to contribute to the healing process by supporting muscle development in the individual.
4. Uses of Animal Assisted Therapy
HDT, whose awareness and use has increased especially in recent years, can be used together with many different treatment and rehabilitation methods. Some examples of fields used for this purpose are as follows:
- Stress
- Depression
- Severe pain following surgery
- Anxiety disorder
- Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
- Dementia
- down syndrome
- Cerebral Palsy (Brain palsy)
- behavioral disorders
- Functional neurological diseases that do not include delusions or hallucinations in children
- chronic fatigue syndrome
- Psychological support in cancer treatment
- Chronic heart diseases
- Speech disorders such as aphasia (loss of language)
- Lack of motivation for recovery
- Schizophrenia
- Underdeveloped or underdeveloped socialization
- Headache
- Treatment of different motor disorders
- feeling of loneliness
HDT can be easily applied in hospitals, nursing homes, schools and farms.
If some of the areas where HDT is used are detailed;
- Pervasive developmental disorders: It has been added as a complementary element to the treatments of conditions and diseases that cause permanent dysfunctions, especially in early development such as autism spectrum disorder, where social skills, language skills and muscle development are not suitable for the normal process. In HDT applied through dogs, the child is given a ball and asked to play fetch with the dog, thus supporting the child's motor development. Activities such as swimming with a dolphin or going for a ride on a horse aim to improve muscle development and relieve the anxious mood caused by the disease.
- Dementia: It has been reported that HDT with dogs applied to 12 elderly people with dementia in a dementia unit in the USA enabled the elderly to exhibit behaviors such as laughing and talking, and was beneficial for their socialization and improvement of cognitive disorders .
Chart title translation: Reported animal-assisted therapy for children with ASD
Graphic line 1 translation: Equine therapy
Graphic line 2 translation: Animal or pet therapy
Graphic line 3 translation: Therapy dog or service dog
5. Types of Animals Used in Animal Assisted Therapy
HDT is generally performed with specially trained animals that are suitable for keeping at home. Dogs are the most preferred animals because they are suitable for training and have social skills. In a study conducted by Parish-Plass, he used mice, hamsters, parrots and dogs in the animal-assisted treatment he applied to children with insecure attachment resulting from abuse and neglect, and shared the positive effects of these animals as cases.
5.1. Dogs
Dogs are often used in HDT, especially to reduce children's anxiety levels. In addition, dogs are used to minimize physical damage to epilepsy patients in times of crisis. In this area, the dog is taught the behavior of a person falling and shaking during an epileptic attack. The dog in the learning process is trained to protect the patient's head by lying under the patient's head or to call for help by barking. For HDT, dogs that are playful, calm, less dominant and not prone to aggressive behavior should be preferred. (For example; Labrador Retriever, Golden Retriever)
5.2. horses
HDT applied using horses is called hippotherapy . In this method, it is aimed to improve the patient's locomotor skills and central nervous system by using the horse's body temperature and rhythmic movements . The body structure and psychological-emotional and behavioral characteristics of the horses to be used in HDT should be taken into consideration. Well-behaved, calm and large horses, known as cold-blooded horses, should be preferred. (For example: Shire, Friesian)
6. Risks and Safety Precautions of Animal Assisted Therapy
Although HDT is a practice that has positive effects on human health, it also has negative effects. Hypersensitivity reactions, especially zoonotic diseases (e.g. hydatid cyst, toxoplasmosis), possible accidents and animal bites are among the risks of HDT. Cleanliness of animals and shelters, necessary vaccinations and preventive drug treatments reduce these risks. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Delta Union have published some standards and guidelines to reduce risks.
Many studies on the effects of HDT have been done and continue to be done around the world. However, there is no scientific study in this field yet in Turkey and HDT is not practiced as a branch of expertise. HDT will be a good supportive treatment in improving human health as long as the necessary precautions are taken and applied by experts.
1 Human needs and tendencies that arise on a genetic basis to connect with life and sustain life.
2 Therapeutic. Something used to treat a disease. An environment where people feel comfortable.
5 Functions such as attention gathering, comprehension, understanding and evaluation.
6 Also known as horse therapy.
7 Moving the body from one place to another. Skipping, jumping, moving the body in space.
8 Diseases transmitted from animals to humans.
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