title: A Systematic Review of Animal-Assisted Therapy on Psychosocial Outcomes in People with Intellectual Disability.
abstract: The aim of the study was to review the literature on animal assisted therapy (AAT) in people with intellectual disabilities (ID) measuring psychosocial outcomes (behavioural, social, cognitive and emotional). Quantitative studies were found through a systematic search that identified studies using AAT in people with ID and measuring psychosocial outcomes (behavioural, cognitive, emotional and social). The quality of studies was assessed using a standardised tool and rated as strong, moderate or weak. Only published articles from peer-reviewed journals were included. No language or age restrictions were applied. Over half of the included studies were identified outside standard database searches (e.g. hand searching reference lists from included articles, references from AAT websites and using Google Scholar and a Grey Literature Database). Ten studies were included in the final review; two were rated as moderate quality and eight were rated as weak quality. Overall there was a positive improvement reported from studies for all psychosocial outcomes (with some cognitive, behavioural, social, emotional components reaching statistical significance p ≤ 0.01). Despite having no age restrictions, the included studies had participants that were mainly children and adolescents, in particular favouring male participants, which may limit generalisation. More rigorous methodology is required to improve the quality of future studies including in the main multicentre randomised designs and improved reporting according to CONSORT criteria. Further research should expand to include adults with ID and specific disorders such as challenging behaviour or mental illness.
authors.affiliation: Kingston Community Team for People with Learning Disabilities, Hollyfield House, 22 Hollyfield Road, Surbiton KT5 9AL, UK. Electronic address: sarahmaber@doctors.org.uk.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Maber-Aleksandrowicz
authors.affiliation: Access Child and Youth Mental Health, Building 19, Springfield Hospital, 61 Glenburnie Road, London SW17 7DJ, UK. Electronic address: cerian.avent@swlstg-tr.nhs.uk.
authors.forename: Cerian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Avent
authors.affiliation: Division of Psychiatry, Charles Bell House, 67-73 Riding House Street, London W1W 7EY, UK. Electronic address: a.hassiotis@ucl.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hassiotis
mesh_terms: D056447:Animal Assisted Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D003071:Cognition; D004644:Emotions; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D000066553:Problem Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D012919:Social Behavior; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Animal-Assisted Therapy; Intellectual Disability; Psychosocial Outcomes