title: Developing effective animal-assisted intervention programs involving visiting dogs for institutionalized geriatric patients: a pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  An ever increasing interest in the therapeutic aspects of the human-animal bond has led to a proliferation of animal-assisted interventions (AAI) involving dogs. However, most of these programs lack a solid methodological structure, and basic evaluative research is needed. The purpose of this study was to test the value of dog-assisted interventions as an innovative tool to increase quality of life in the geriatric population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nineteen patients (men and women) with a mean age of 85 years participated in the study. Interactions between patients and visiting dogs occurred either in a social situation (socialization sessions) or in a therapeutic context (physical therapy sessions). We derived and characterized a specific ethogram of elderly-dog interactions aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of visiting dogs in improving mood, catalyzing social interactions and reducing their everyday apathetic state. Cortisol levels were also measured in the saliva, and depressive state was evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, results show a time-dependent increase in social behaviour and spontaneous interactions with the dogs. Dog-mediated interactions affected the daily increase in cortisol levels, thus having an 'activational effect', in contrast to the apathetic state of institutionalized elderly.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dog-mediated intervention programs appear to be promising tools to improve the social skills and enrich the daily activities of the institutionalized elderly.
authors.affiliation: Behavioural Neuroscience Unit             Neurotoxicology and Neuroendocrinology Unit, Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Berry
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Borgi
authors.forename: Livia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Terranova
authors.forename: Flavia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chiarotti
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Alleva
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cirulli
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D056447:Animal Assisted Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D000818:Animals; D003863:Depression / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005853:Geriatrics / Q000379:methods*; D006707:Homes for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000378:metabolism; D007326:Institutionalization / Q000379:methods*; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D009735:Nursing Homes; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism; D012919:Social Behavior
chemical_list: D006854:Hydrocortisone