Department of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Ionian Area (DiMePRe-J), University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Bari, Italy,
Psychiatr Danub. 2024 Sep;36(Suppl 2):371-375.
Previous animal-assisted interventions (AAI) studies have documented that human-animal interaction can reduce anxiety levels and improve social skills and quality of life. In recent decades there was a growing evidence on the benefits achievable through human-animal relationship in different categories of people, such as children with autism spectrum disorder, elderly patients affected by dementia, patients with psychiatric disorders and alcohol/drug addiction.
In the present study ten patients from psychiatric residential facilities belonging to the EPASSS Foundation were approached to participated in this study. Patients followed a rehabilitation project named "Animal-Mente". This project originated from the collaboration of the psychiatric residential facilities belonging to the EPASSS Foundation with "La coda di Ulisse", a Third Sector Organization (ETS) which represents the Apulian reference centre for AAI. Outcome assessments were conducted at recruitment (time 0) and after animal-assisted intervention (time 1).
Significative improvements were found for symptomatology as emerged from the BPRS scale's results. Aspects of recovery with a special focus on hope and determination were assessed by the RAS scale, which showed a significative difference between before and post intervention.
Our data highlighted the feasibility of Animal-Assisted Interventions (AAI) in community mental health services. Our study underlined the opportunity of AAI in an integrative recovery oriented psychiatric rehabilitation program involving mental health department, psychiatric residential facilities and third sector organizations in a network activity.
先前的动物辅助干预（AAI）研究已经证明，人与动物的互动可以降低焦虑水平，提高社交技能和生活质量。近几十年来，越来越多的证据表明，在自闭症谱系障碍儿童、老年痴呆症患者、精神障碍患者和酒精/药物成瘾患者等不同人群中，通过人与动物的关系可以实现诸多益处。
本研究邀请了 EPASSS 基金会的十名精神科住院患者参与该研究。患者参与了名为“Animal-Mente”的康复项目。该项目源于 EPASSS 基金会的精神科住院机构与“La coda di Ulisse”之间的合作，后者是一个第三部门组织（ETS），是意大利普利亚地区动物辅助干预的参考中心。在招募时（时间 0）和动物辅助干预后（时间 1）进行结果评估。
BPRS 量表的结果显示，患者的症状有显著改善。RAS 量表评估了康复方面的情况，特别是希望和决心，干预前后有显著差异。
我们的数据强调了社区心理健康服务中动物辅助干预（AAI）的可行性。我们的研究强调了 AAI 在涉及精神卫生部门、精神科住院机构和第三部门组织的网络活动的综合康复导向精神康复计划中的机会。
