Animal-assisted therapy with farm animals for persons with psychiatric disorders: effects on self-efficacy, coping ability and quality of life, a randomized controlled trial

Three studies administered follow-up assessments, which demonstrated that the novelty effects associated with AAI may have been short-lived.

“three studies administered follow-up assessments (Berget, Ekeberg and Braastad 2008;Berget et al. 2011;Pedersen et al. 2012), which demonstrated that the novelty effects associated with aaI may have been short-lived.”

Some studies used measures tapping specific constructs such as self-efficacy and self-esteem, whereas others used broader measures such as overall quality of life.

“some studies used measures that tapped specific constructs, such as self-efficacy (e.g., Berget, Ekeberg and Braastad 2008;Pedersen et al. 2012) and self-esteem (e.g., Chu et al. 2009), whereas others used broader measures, such as overall quality of life for children with cerebral palsy (e.g., Davis et al. 2009).”

Three studies found beneficial psychological effects with farm animal-assisted therapy, although two of these studies reported findings using the same sample.

“three studies found beneficial psychological effects with farm animal-assisted therapy (Berget, Ekeberg and Braastad 2008;Berget et al. 2011;Pedersen et al. 2012), although two of these studies reported findings using the same sample.”

Only three studies, Berget, Ekeberg and Braastad 2008, Berget et al. 2011, and Pedersen et al. 2012, reported follow-up assessments beyond the end of treatment.

“however, only three studies (Berget, Ekeberg and Braastad 2008;Berget et al. 2011;Pedersen et al. 2012) reported follow-up assessments beyond the end of treatment.”

AAI using farm animals may be beneficial for individuals with depression and other forms of psychiatric disorders.

“We also found that aaI using farm animals may be beneficial for individuals with depression (Pedersen et al. 2012) and other forms of psychiatric disorders (Berget, Ekeberg and Braastad 2008;Berget et al. 2011).”

Only five studies reported or provided sufficient information to calculate an effect size, such as eta squared statistics, to estimate the strength of the intervention effect.

“Finally, only five of the studies in the present review (Bass, Duchowny and llabre 2009;Berget, Ekeberg and Braastad 2008;Berget et al. 2011;Pedersen et al. 2012;Villalta-Gil et al. 2009) reported or provided sufficient information to calculate an effect size (i.e., eta squared statistics) to estimate the strength of the intervention effect.”