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The Effects of Animal-Assisted Therapy on Happiness of Chronic Psychiatric Patients in a Nursing Home in Tehran: A Randomized Controlled Study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 March 2020

F. Tobeh ,
M. Sahebalzamani ,
L. Fattah Moghaddam  and
H. Farahani
F. Tobeh
Affiliation:
Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Department of Psychiatric Nursing, Tehran, Iran
M. Sahebalzamani
Affiliation:
Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Department of Psychiatric Nursing, Tehran, Iran
L. Fattah Moghaddam
Affiliation:
Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Department of Psychiatric Nursing, Tehran, Iran
H. Farahani
Affiliation:
Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Department of psychology, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

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Background

Psychiatric patients who live in nursing homes may often feel a loss of autonomy, decision-making, and participation in social activities. They usually had little or no visitors and also they do not have any purpose for living. Pets may decrease this problem and improve their happiness.

Objectives

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of animal-assisted therapy (AAT) on happiness of chronic psychiatric patients in nursing home.

Method

The study design was a randomized controlled trial (RCT) with pre and post-test. Seventy males with chronic mental health disorder who were patients of the nursing homes were randomly divided into a pet therapy intervention group and control group. Patients in the experimental group received pet-therapy with bird as 6 weeks therapy comprising 6 sessions per week. All patients were evaluated by the Oxford happiness questionnaire before and after 6 weeks.

Results

Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was conducted and pretest was considered as a covariate variable. The result demonstrated that the patients in the experimental group had significantly increased (P < 0.001) happiness in posttest scores.

Conclusion

It is important to consider ways of enhancing happiness in psychiatric patients who live in the nursing homes. Also, it is appearing that AAT can be helpful for them.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Type
e-Poster viewing: Rehabilitation and psycho-education
Information
European Psychiatry , Volume 41 , Issue S1: Abstract of the 25th European Congress of Psychiatry , April 2017 , pp. s786
Copyright
Copyright © European Psychiatric Association 2017
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