The Implementation of Animal Assisted Therapy Programs in Substance use Disorders

AAT is a coordinated, programmed and structured therapeutic intervention, where the collaboration of an animal with specific qualities is included, as a characteristic element of the rehabilitation process. All the treatment must be designed, documented and evaluated by the personnel who carry out the program, together with the professionals of the resource in which it is applied [4-6]. The AAT differs from other animal activities (animal assisted activities, service animal programs and animal assisted education), primarily because the process of intervention of the animal and responsible specialist is supervised and subject to the action of the reference professional that includes such therapy within the rehabilitation treatment [4]. In recent years, the scientific community has been making an important effort to show how the use of animals in clinical intervention processes helps improve the physical, psychological and social health of patients. AAT is presented as adjunctive therapy to standard therapeutic programs, contributing, in a supplementary way, to achieving the objectives proposed in the treatment [6,7].

The performance of AAT programs are included within joint therapies that enhance the benefits achieved by the patient by participating in standard rehabilitation programs [8,9]. This is because interactions with the animal stimulate the release of oxytocin, improving patients' perceived mental health, behavior, therapeutic intervention and, finally, the relationship of well-being with the professionals of the resource [3,6]. In AAT the animal is integrated into psychotherapeutic treatment with the aim of promoting the increase of the physical, psychosocial and cognitive functions of the patients. The benefits provided are summarized in the following areas: identification and affective regulation (emotions, mood and motivation); achieving healthy self-esteem; social skills learning; improvement of the socialization process; and lastly, the stimulation of cognitive functions [3,5]. The benefits provided can be used in many healthcare and healthcare settings, favoring patients with various pathologies. Table 1 shows the main animals used as co-therapists in rehabilitation programs, along with the diversity of psychotherapeutic intervention settings where TAA programs are implemented [1].

Table 1: Animal species and areas of AAT intervention.

Source. Own elaboration

AAT

Main animals used Horses, dolphins, farm animals (cows, donkeys, goats, sheep, chickens, pigs, rabbits, ducks ...), cats, dogs and pets. Different areas of intervention Neurorehabilitation, education, mental health, geriatrics, gerontology, prisons, hospitals, addictions and oncology.

Implementation of AAT in substance use disorders

Once the benefits of incorporating TAA are known, the possible utility in the framework of rehabilitation in addictions is raised; where TAA programs complementary to the treatment program are temporarily integrated, mainly with the collaboration of therapy dogs, which participated as therapeutic tool [2]. The sessions usually are structured following a standard scheme: it began with an introduction in which the animal therapy technician begins the topic and objectives pursued in the session, and the patients participate in observation activities to learn the handling of the animal [8]. After this section, patients actively experiment and interact with the animal, working on the objectives set. Finally, it concludes with the evaluation of the participants accompanied by the therapist and the specialist in charge to assess the achievements obtained [5].

In the course of the successive evaluations, an improvement is sought in the therapeutic alliance with the professionals who are part of the therapeutic team of the resource; greater adherence to treatment, with the aim of increasing the motivation of patients who interacted with the animal [3,9]. Other perceived benefits, and no less important, should be presented, such as: the feeling of psychological well-being linked to a better management of anxiety, anxiety or craving, since interaction with the animal facilitates the identification and regulation of the present emotional state [2,7]. Finally, a second group of benefits is detected, which includes the improvement of perceived social support, the learning of coping strategies and the best adaptation to the residential resource [3,8].

It is valued that the implementation of AAT, as a complement to the therapy given in addiction rehabilitation centers, can be beneficial, since it favors the motivation, participation and involvement of patients [10]. AAT facilitates a proactive attitude in the patient, which as it acquires new benefits during the course of the sessions using interaction with the animal, manages to improve adherence to treatment, facilitates the therapeutic relationship, and ultimately, is a multisensory element of intervention that favors the evolution and achievement of psychotherapeutic treatment goals [2,11]. Thus, the need to continue intervening in this line is considered, in order to scientifically study the usefulness and validity of AAT as a therapeutic complement to the treatment of substance use disorders and behavioral addictions.

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