Animal-assisted therapy for patients in a minimally conscious state: A randomized two treatment multi-period crossover trial

English version

Autoři: Karin Hediger ^aff001; Milena Petignat ^aff001; Rahel Marti ^aff001; Margret Hund-Georgiadis ^aff002
Působiště autorů: Department of Psychology, Division of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland ^aff001; REHAB Basel, Clinic for neurorehabilitation and paraplegiology, Basel, Switzerland ^aff002; Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Human and Animal Health Unit, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland ^aff003; Institute for Interdisciplinary Research on the Human-Animal Relationship Switzerland, Basel, Switzerland ^aff004
Vyšlo v časopise: PLoS ONE 14(10)
Kategorie: Research Article
prolekare.web.journal.doi_sk: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0222846

Souhrn

Objective

To investigate if animal-assisted therapy (AAT) leads to higher consciousness in patients in a minimally conscious state during a therapy session, measured via behavioral reactions, heart rate and heart rate variability.

Methods

In a randomized two treatment multi-period crossover trial, 10 patients in a minimally conscious state participated in eight AAT sessions and eight paralleled conventional therapy sessions, leading to 78 AAT and 73 analyzed control sessions. Patients’ responses during sessions were assessed via behavioral video coding and the Basler Vegetative State Assessment (BAVESTA), heart rate and heart rate variability (SDNN, RMSSD, HF and LF). Data were analyzed with generalized linear mixed models.

Results

Patients showed more eye movements (IRR = 1.31, 95% CI: 1.23 to 1.40, p < 0.001) and active movements per tactile input during AAT compared to control sessions (IRR = 1.13, 95% CI: 1.02 to 1.25, p = 0.018). No difference was found for positive emotions. With BAVESTA, patients’ overall behavioral reactions were rated higher during AAT (b = 0.11, 95% CI: 0.01 to 0.22, p = 0.038). AAT led to significantly higher LF (b = 5.82, 95% CI: 0.55 to 11.08, p = 0.031) and lower HF (b = -5.80, 95% CI: -11.06 to -0.57, p = 0.030), while heart rate, SDNN, RMSSD did not differ.

Conclusions

Patients in a minimally conscious state showed more behavioral reactions and increased physiological arousal during AAT compared to control sessions. This might indicate increased consciousness during therapeutic sessions in the presence of an animal.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02629302.

Klíčová slova:

Dogs – Behavior – Animal behavior – Emotions – Consciousness – Heart rate – Traumatic brain injury – Eye movements

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