Going to the dogs: A quasi-experimental assessment of animal assisted therapy for children who have experienced abuse

Signal, Tania; Taylor, Nik; Prentice, Kathy; McDade, Maria; Burke, Karena J.

doi:10.1080/10888691.2016.1165098

Cited by 31Human-Animal Interaction StudiesChild Therapy and DevelopmentPosttraumatic Stress Disorder Research

Going to the dogs: A quasi-experimental assessment of animal assisted therapy for children who have experienced abuse

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Signal, Tania, Taylor, Nik, Prentice, Kathy, McDade, Maria, Burke, Karena J.·2017·Applied Developmental Science

DOI 10.1080/10888691.2016.1165098

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Abstract

Experience of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is a risk factor for the development of maladaptive outcomes across the lifespan. CSA victims have been found to have a significantly higher risk of developing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) than children who experience non-CSA trauma. While cognitive behavioral therapy approaches have been found to effectively treat PTSD, reviews suggest that children who have experienced CSA commonly disengage from this type of therapy. Engaging children who have been sexually abused may therefore require both innovation and creativity. One approach that is gaining recognition as effectively addressing barriers associated with engagement and retention is animal assisted therapy (AAT). The current article presents a quasi-experimental assessment of an AAT program working with children who present with clinical symptoms of PTSD following CSA. The efficacy of the program is discussed along with implications of the rising interest in AAT initiatives.

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Children participating in a trauma treatment group showed significant reductions in PTSD symptoms of intrusion, arousal, avoidance and dissociation.
“Children participating in a trauma treatment group showed significant reductions in PTSD symptoms of intrusion, arousal, avoidance and dissociation [33].”
From Incorporating animal-assisted therapy in mental health treatments for adolescents: A systematic review of canine assisted psychotherapy (2019) · cites this paper as [33]
There is some evidence to suggest that AAT, and in particular CAP, is an effective intervention for child and adolescent populations with trauma symptoms.
“There is some evidence to suggest that AAT, and in particular CAP, is an effective intervention for child and adolescent populations with neurodevelopmental difficulties [31, 32] and trauma symptoms [33, 41].”
From Incorporating animal-assisted therapy in mental health treatments for adolescents: A systematic review of canine assisted psychotherapy (2019) · cites this paper as [33]
A number of studies reported that the presence of canines had a direct impact on the primary diagnoses and clinical symptomatology of participants.
“A number of these studies reported that the presence of canines had a direct impact on the primary diagnoses and clinical symptomatology of the participants [31–36].”
From Incorporating animal-assisted therapy in mental health treatments for adolescents: A systematic review of canine assisted psychotherapy (2019) · cites this paper as [33]

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Animal assisted therapy as a treatment for childhood adversity
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Authors: Signal, T., Taylor, N., Prentice, K., McDade, M., & Burke, K. J.
Affiliations: Central Queensland University (AU)
Flinders University (AU)
Phoenix Houses of New England (US)
Corresponding author: Signal, Tania
ORCID: Signal, Tania
Taylor, Nik
Burke, Karena J.
Venue: Applied Developmental Science
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Published: 2016-04-11
Volume: 21
Issue: 2
Pages: 81-93
ISSN: 1088-8691 (ISSN-L)
1532-480X
DOI: 10.1080/10888691.2016.1165098
OpenAlex: W2316870791
Cited by: 31
References: 72
Citations by year: 2026: 2 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 3 · 2016: 1
FWCI: 1.88
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: green
figshare.com
Licence: cc-by
Locations: Applied Developmental Science (publishedVersion)
Acquire (CQUniversity) (submittedVersion)
Figshare (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Funders: Central Queensland University (AH0770)
Topics: Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Human-Animal Interaction Studies
Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child Therapy and Development
Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research
Keywords: animal-assisted therapy, child sexual abuse, post-traumatic stress disorder, children, cognitive behavioral therapy, treatment efficacy

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Going to the dogs: A quasi-experimental assessment of animal assisted therapy for children who have experienced abuse

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