Coping skills interventions with adolescents in anger management using animals in therapy

Hanselman [76] provided insufficient details on participant eligibility, screening, and statistical analyses to assess the outcomes reported.

“Hanselman [76] report of treatment goals within the paper was very detailed; but there were insufficient details on participant eligibility, screening, and statistical analyses to assess the outcomes reported.”

Two studies were ranked as 'poor' for methodological quality.

“Two of the studies were ranked as ‘poor’ for methodological quality [75, 76].”

Narrower age ranges appear to have been utilised for group intervention programs in which participants worked collaboratively together and would ideally be developmentally matched.

“Narrower age ranges appear have been utilised for group intervention programs in which participants worked collaboratively together and would ideally be developmentally matched [74–76].”

Participants presented with a range of difficulties, including females with a history of physical or sexual abuse, low achievement in school and interpersonal difficulties; males and females requiring an anger management intervention; adolescents referred to counselling for emotional issues; or adolescents admitted to hospital with severe psychiatric illness.

“Participants presented with a range of difficulties, including: females with a history of physical or sexual abuse, low achievement in school & interpersonal difficulties [74]; males and females requiring an anger management intervention [75, 76]; adolescents referred to counselling for emotional issues [56, 73]; or adolescents admitted to hospital with severe psychiatric illness [71, 72].”

All but two of the studies reported that facilitators were explicitly trained or supervised in AAT.

“All but two of the studies reported that facilitators were explicitly trained or supervised in AAT [56, 76].”

Hanselman [76] had heavy reliance on subjective (non-validated) self-report measures, and informal facilitator observations, in many of the author's conclusions.

“There was also heavy reliance on subjective (non-validated) self-report measures, and informal facilitator observations, in many of the author’s conclusions.”

Facilitators were reported to be qualified or student counsellors, social workers, psychologists, or psychiatric hospital staff.

“Facilitators were reported to be qualified or student counsellors [73, 75, 76], social workers [74], psychologists [72], or psychiatric hospital staff [71].”

Hanselman [76] reported that two canines were present only for certain periods during the intervention, in particular during group discussions.

“Unlike the other studies, Hanselman [76] reported that two canines were present only for certain periods during the intervention, in particular during group discussions.”

Informal observations made by the facilitators indicated largely spontaneous interactions in the Hanselman [76] intervention.

“Informal observations made by the facilitators indicated largely spontaneous interactions.”

Hanselman [76] found that mean scores for depression on the BDI-II increased significantly from pre-intervention to post-intervention, with results remaining in the 'moderate' range.

“Mean scores for depression increased significantly from pre-intervention to post-intervention, with results remaining in the ‘moderate’ range.”

The remaining three studies reported group interventions.

“The remaining three studies reported group interventions [74–76].”

Hanselman [76] reported an increase in the mean score on the Companion Animal Bonding Scale (CABS) pre-session to post-session, although statistical data is unavailable.

“The author also reports an increase in the mean score on the Companion Animal Bonding Scale (CABS) pre-session to post-session, although statistical data is unavailable.”

An increase in depression was reported by Hanselman [76], attributed to increased emotional awareness and reduced substance use.

“An increase in depression was reported by Hanselman [76], attributed to increased emotional awareness and reduced substance use.”

Hanselman [76] reported a significant decrease in mean state anger (STAS) and trait anger (TAS) from pre to post intervention and an increase in mean rating for subjective anger from beginning to end of sessions, but statistical analyses were not reported.

“The author reported a significant decrease in the mean state anger (STAS) and trait anger (TAS) from pre to post intervention and an increase in the mean rating for subjective anger for beginning to end of sessions. Statistical analyses were not reported.”

Hanselman [76] reported informal, in-session observations indicating that positive behaviour increased when the canines were present.

“Hanselman [76] reports informal, in-session observations made by the facilitators, indicating that positive behaviour increased when the canines were present.”

No drop-outs are evident or reported for four of the studies [56, 73, 74, 76].

“With regard to acceptability (i.e., attendance and attrition), no drop-outs are evident or reported for four of the studies [56, 73, 74, 76].”

Three studies indicated that the participant-canine interactions were the central tenet of the therapy, that is, all of the therapeutic content was centred around canine-related activities [71, 72, 74], whereas in others the canine was present only for portions of the therapy [76].

“Three studies indicated that the participant-canine interactions were the central tenet of the therapy, that is, all of the therapeutic content was centred around canine-related activities [71, 72, 74], whereas in others the canine was present only for portions of the therapy [76].”

One further study reported on clinical symptoms [76], but the study was of such poor quality that any conclusions must be treated conservatively and with caution.

“One further study reported on clinical symptoms [76], but the study was of such poor quality, that any conclusions must be treated conservatively and with caution.”

Only two studies included information about existing psychological theories or techniques that informed the nature of the intervention, such as play therapy, attachment theory, solution-focused therapy and CBT [73, 76].

“Only two studies included information about existing psychological theories or techniques that informed the nature of the intervention, such as play therapy, attachment theory, solution-focused therapy and CBT [73, 76].”

Positive, pro-social engagements such as talking and showing affection were reported by a number of the authors [56, 71, 72, 75, 76] and are consistent with the existing literature [38, 39].

“Positive, pro-social engagements such as talking and showing affection were reported by a number of the authors [56, 71, 72, 75, 76] and are consistent with the existing literature [38, 39].”

Qualitative reports also indicate a reduction in negative and disruptive behaviours displayed during interventions [75, 76].

“Qualitative reports also indicate a reduction in negative and disruptive behaviours displayed during interventions [75, 76].”

The intervention, an anger management group, was associated with reductions in emotional and behavioural anger.

“The intervention, an anger management group, was associated with reductions in emotional and behavioural anger.”

The author also reported an increase in depression that was attributed to greater emotional awareness and reduced substance use [76].

“The author also reported an increase in depression that was attributed to greater emotional awareness and reduced substance use [76].”

The canine's ability to increase calm, self-soothing and feelings of attachment may explain the findings on engagement and socialisation [38, 39, 56, 75, 76, 87].

“These findings may be a product of the canine’s ability to increase calm, self-soothing and feelings of attachment [38, 39, 56, 75, 76, 87]”