Effectiveness of Animal Assisted Therapy after brain injury: A bridge to improved outcomes in CRT

Issue title: Effectiveness of Neurorehabilitation Treatment for Individuals with Brain Injury or Stroke

Guest editors: Rick Parente

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Stapleton, Mary

Affiliations: Towson University, Towson, MD, USA. Tel.: +1 410 665 3509; E-mail: mstapleton@towson.edu

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) has been widely used as a complementary therapy in mental health treatment especially to remediate social skill deficits. The goal of AAT is to improve social, emotional, and cognitive functioning. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this article is to draw upon the literature on AAT and explore specific applications to cognitive rehabilitation therapy (CRT) and social skills training. METHODS: This study provides a systematic review of most of the available literature on ATT and assesses that potential uses of ATT for brain injury rehabilitation. RESULTS: Although the efficacy of AAT is not currently well documented by rigorous research, (Kazin, 2010) anecdotal evidence suggests that brain injury survivors may benefit from the combination of AAT and cognitive rehabilitation techniques. CONCLUSIONS: Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) survivors with cognitive impairments can benefit from AAT as part of a comprehensive and holistic rehabilitation treatment plan.

Keywords: Animal Assisted Therapy, cognitive rehabilitation acquired brain injury, therapy, service dog, therapy dog

DOI: 10.3233/NRE-161345

Journal: NeuroRehabilitation, vol. 39, no. 1, pp. 135-140, 2016