Time down on the farm with animals could provide some therapeutic
benefit for people with mental illness, according to researchers
writing in the open access journal Clinical Practice and Epidemiology in Mental Health. The results come from the first randomised controlled study of the benefits of farm animals, as opposed to domestic pets.
Bente Berget and Bjarne Braastad of the Norwegian University of Life
Sciences in As, working with Oivind Ekeberg of the University of Oslo,
Norway, note that the benefits of animal-assisted therapy (AAT) for
mental disorders using cats and dogs has been well studied. However,
until now, there have been no controlled trials of farm animals in
treating psychiatric disorders.
The use of farms in promoting human mental and physical health
in cooperation with health authorities is increasing in Europe and the
USA, particularly under the Green care banner. Historically, the
approach was associated with hospitals, psychiatric departments and
other health institutions but today, most Green care projects involve
community gardens, city farms, allotment gardens and farms.
To assess the benefits of Green care, the researchers asked
ninety patients (59 women and 31 men) with schizophrenia, affective
disorders, anxiety, and personality disorders to complete
self-assessment questionnaires on quality of life, coping ability and
self-efficacy, before a 12-week period spending three hours twice a
week working with the farm animals.
The before and after results showed that AAT with farm animals
had some positive effect on self-efficacy, the ability to cope, of
patients with long-lasting psychiatric symptoms, their quality of life.
"During the six months follow-up period self-efficacy was significantly
better in the treatment group, but not in the control group," the
researchers say.
They add that, "Further controlled studies are needed for
confirmation and to more accurately define the psychiatric population
with the greatest potential to benefit."
Sources:
1. 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.
Bente Berget, Oivind Ekeberg and Bjarne O Braastad
Clinical Practice and Epidemiology in Mental Health (in press)
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