title: Effect of animal-assisted interventions on depression, agitation and quality of life in nursing home residents suffering from cognitive impairment or dementia: a cluster randomized controlled trial.
abstract: The prevalence of neuropsychiatric symptoms in cognitively impaired nursing home residents is known to be very high, with depression and agitation being the most common symptoms. The possible effects of a 12-week intervention with animal-assisted activities (AAA) in nursing homes were studied. The primary outcomes related to depression, agitation and quality of life (QoL).
  
  
  
  A prospective, cluster randomized multicentre trial with a follow-up measurement 3 months after end of intervention was used. Inclusion criteria were men and women aged 65 years or older, with a diagnosis of dementia or having a cognitive deficit. Ten nursing homes were randomized to either AAA with a dog or a control group with treatment as usual. In total, 58 participants were recruited: 28 in the intervention group and 30 in the control group. The intervention consisted of a 30-min session with AAA twice weekly for 12 weeks in groups of three to six participants, led by a qualified dog handler. Norwegian versions of the Cornell Scale for Depression, the Brief Agitation Rating Scale and the Quality of Life in Late-stage Dementia scale were used.
  
  
  
  A significant effect on depression and QoL was found for participants with severe dementia at follow-up. For QoL, a significant effect of AAA was also found immediately after the intervention. No effects on agitation were found.
  
  
  
  Animal-assisted activities may have a positive effect on symptoms of depression and QoL in older people with dementia, especially those in a late stage. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
authors.affiliation: Section for Public Health Science, Department of Landscape Architecture and Spatial Planning, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway. christine.olsen@nmbu.no.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Olsen
authors.affiliation: Section for Public Health Science, Department of Landscape Architecture and Spatial Planning, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway.
authors.forename: Ingeborg
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pedersen
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, Oslo and Akershus University College, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Astrid
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bergland
authors.affiliation: Psychology and Educational Sciences, Open University of the Netherlands, Heerlen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Marie-José
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Enders-Slegers
authors.affiliation: Section for Public Health Science, Department of Landscape Architecture and Spatial Planning, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway.
authors.forename: Grete
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Patil
authors.affiliation: Section for Public Health Science, Department of Landscape Architecture and Spatial Planning, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway.|Faculty of Health and Social Work Studies, Østfold University College, Fredrikstad, Norway.
authors.forename: Camilla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ihlebaek
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D003704:Dementia / Q000523:psychology*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000628:therapy*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009664:Norway; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D057805:Pets / Q000523:psychology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011595:Psychomotor Agitation / Q000628:therapy*; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology
keywords: agitation; animal-assisted interventions; dementia; depression; neuropsychiatric symptoms; non-pharmacological interventions; quality of life