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Animal-assisted activity and emotional status of patients with Alzheimer’s disease in day care

Authors

Mossello, Enrico, Ridolfi, Alessandro, Mello, Anna Maria, Lorenzini, Giulia, Mugnai, Francesca, Piccini, Carolina, Barone, Domenico, Peruzzi, Anna, Masotti, Giulio, Marchionni, Niccolò

Journal

International Psychogeriatrics / IPA, Volume: 23, No.: 6, Pages.: 899-905

Year of Publication

2011

Abstract

Background: Preliminary studies suggest beneficial effects of animal-assisted activities (AAA) on behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD), but data are inconsistent. This study aimed to assess the effect of AAA with dogs on cognition, BPSD, emotional status and motor activity in severe Alzheimer’s disease (AD).; Methods: Ten patients attending an Alzheimer Day Care Center (ADCC) participated in a repeated measures study, which included: two weeks’ pre-intervention, three weeks’ control activity with plush dogs (CA), and three weeks’ AAA. Cognitive function (Severe Impairment Battery), mood (Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia; CSDD), BPSD (Neuropsychiatric Inventory; NPI) and agitation (Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory; CMAI) were assessed at baseline and after each period. Observed Emotion Rating Scale (OERS) for emotional status, Agitated Behavior Mapping Instrument (ABMI) and a checklist for motor activity were completed across the study periods, both during intervention sessions and after three hours.; Results: Cognition and NPI were unchanged across the study. Declines in the CMAI and CSDD scores after AAA were not significant, while the NPI anxiety item score decreased in comparison with CA (CA 3.1±2.3, AAA 1.5±2.7, p = 0.04). OERS “sadness” decreased (p = 0.002), while “pleasure” (p = 0.016) and “general alertness” (p = 0.003) increased during AAA compared with CA sessions, and observed sadness remained lower after three hours (p = 0.002). Motor activity increased significantly during AAA.; Conclusion: In this sample of severe AD patients in ADCC, AAA was associated with a decrease in anxiety and sadness and an increase in positive emotions and motor activity in comparison with a control activity.;

Bibtex Citation

@article{Mossello_2011, doi = {10.1017/s1041610211000226}, url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s1041610211000226}, year = 2011, month = {mar}, publisher = {Cambridge University Press ({CUP})}, volume = {23}, number = {06}, pages = {899--905}, author = {Enrico Mossello and Alessandro Ridolfi and Anna Maria Mello and Giulia Lorenzini and Francesca Mugnai and Carolina Piccini and Domenico Barone and Anna Peruzzi and Giulio Masotti and Niccol{`{o}} Marchionni}, title = {Animal-assisted activity and emotional status of patients with Alzheimer{textquotesingle}s disease in day care}, journal = {Int. Psychogeriatr.} }

Keywords

aged, aged, 80 and over, alzheimer disease, animal assisted therapy, animals, cognition, day care, dogs, emotions, female, humans, male, methods, neuropsychological tests, psychology, therapy

Countries of Study

Italy

Types of Dementia

Alzheimer’s Disease

Types of Study

Before and After Study

Type of Outcomes

Behaviour, Cognition, Depression and Anxiety

Settings

Day Care

Type of Interventions

Non-pharmacological Treatment

Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions

Animal / Pet Therapy