Berget Bente, Ekeberg Oivind, Braastad Bjarne O
Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Department of Animal and Aquacultural Sciences, P,O, Box 5003, NO-1432 As, Norway.
Clin Pract Epidemiol Ment Health. 2008 Apr 11;4:9. doi: 10.1186/1745-0179-4-9.
The benefits of Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT) for humans with mental disorders have been well-documented using cats and dogs, but there is a complete lack of controlled studies using farm animals as therapeutic agents for psychiatric patients. The study was developed in the context of Green care, a concept that involves the use of farm animals, plants, gardens, or the landscape in recreational or work-related interventions for different target groups of clients in cooperation with health authorities. The present study aimed at examining effects of a 12-week intervention with farm animals on self-efficacy, coping ability and quality of life among adult psychiatric patients with a variety of psychiatric diagnoses.
The study was a randomized controlled trial and follow-up. Ninety patients (59 women and 31 men) with schizophrenia, affective disorders, anxiety, and personality disorders completed questionnaires to assess self-efficacy (Generalized Self-Efficacy Scale; GSE), coping ability (Coping Strategies Scale), and quality of life (Quality of Life Scale; QOLS-N) before, at the end of intervention, and at six months follow-up. Two-thirds of the patients (N = 60) were given interventions; the remaining served as controls.
There was significant increase in self-efficacy in the treatment group but not in the control group from before intervention (SB) to six months follow-up (SSMA), (SSMA-SB; F1,55 = 4.20, p= 0.05) and from end of intervention (SA) to follow-up (SSMA-SA; F1,55 = 5.6, p= 0.02). There was significant increase in coping ability within the treatment group between before intervention and follow-up (SSMA-SB = 2.7, t = 2.31, p = 0.03), whereas no changes in quality of life was found. There were no significant changes in any of the variables during the intervention.
AAT with farm animals may have positive influences on self-efficacy and coping ability among psychiatric patients with long lasting psychiatric symptoms.
动物辅助疗法（AAT）对患有精神障碍的人类的益处已通过猫和狗得到充分证明，但完全缺乏将农场动物用作精神病患者治疗剂的对照研究。该研究是在绿色护理的背景下开展的，绿色护理是一个概念，涉及在与卫生当局合作的情况下，将农场动物、植物、花园或景观用于针对不同目标客户群体的娱乐或工作相关干预措施。本研究旨在探讨对患有各种精神疾病诊断的成年精神病患者进行为期12周的农场动物干预对自我效能感、应对能力和生活质量的影响。
该研究是一项随机对照试验及随访研究。90名患有精神分裂症、情感障碍、焦虑症和人格障碍的患者（59名女性和31名男性）在干预前、干预结束时和六个月随访时完成问卷，以评估自我效能感（一般自我效能量表；GSE）、应对能力（应对策略量表）和生活质量（生活质量量表；QOLS-N）。三分之二的患者（N = 60）接受干预；其余作为对照组。
从干预前（SB）到六个月随访（SSMA），治疗组的自我效能感有显著增加，而对照组没有（SSMA - SB；F1,55 = 4.20，p = 0.05），从干预结束时（SA）到随访（SSMA - SA；F1,55 = 5.6，p = 0.02）也是如此。治疗组在干预前和随访之间的应对能力有显著增加（SSMA - SB = 2.7，t = 2.31，p = 0.03），而生活质量没有变化。在干预期间，任何变量均无显著变化。
使用农场动物的动物辅助疗法可能对患有长期精神症状的精神病患者的自我效能感和应对能力产生积极影响。
