Animal-assisted therapy can help treat patients with brain injuries: Study
| Apr 10, 2019, 13:28 IST
Animal-assisted therapy can help improve social behaviour in patients with brain injuries, according to a new study.
Traumatic brain injury can cause social behaviour issues in patients, who have been found to exhibit impaired emotional expression, as well as reduced emotional empathy. This makes it difficult for patients to interact and communicate with others. Animal-assisted therapy is often used in rehabilitation in order to improve social competence in patients. Researchers have found it can also "stimulate patient engagement and motivation".
For the study, the team conducted various therapy sessions that were conventional, as well as animal-assisted on 19 participants. Researchers made a note of the participants' social behaviour and examined each therapy session. The team also made a note of the patients' mood, treatment motivation and satisfaction. Guinea pigs, miniature pigs, rabbits and sheep were among the animals that were part of the study.
Researchers from the Barrow Neurological Institute have also found a link between domestic violence and traumatic brain injury. "Head injuries are among the most common type suffered in domestic violence, which can lead to repetitive brain injuries that often have chronic, life-changing effects, much like what we see in athletes," lead researcher Zieman told a news portal. Adding, "We found that 88 per cent of these victims suffered more than one head injury as a result of their abuse and 81 per cent reported too many injuries to count."
Treating brain injuries is crucial as it can lead to dementia and Alzheimer's disease, according to another study. The study, published in the journal The Lancet Psychiatry, found teenagers who experience a brain injury can develop dementia later on in life.
“The injuries including falls, accidents and assaults in 20s could develop the most common cause of dementia in 50s or 60s, which is Alzheimer's," neurologist Dr Satish Kumar told a news portal. Adding, "The disruptions in the nervous system due to injuries affect memory in most instances.”
The study's results showed severe traumatic brain injury increased the risk by 35 per cent, while mild traumatic brain injury increases the risk by 17 per cent. The team also found the risk is higher for men.
Traumatic brain injury can cause social behaviour issues in patients, who have been found to exhibit impaired emotional expression, as well as reduced emotional empathy. This makes it difficult for patients to interact and communicate with others. Animal-assisted therapy is often used in rehabilitation in order to improve social competence in patients. Researchers have found it can also "stimulate patient engagement and motivation".
For the study, the team conducted various therapy sessions that were conventional, as well as animal-assisted on 19 participants. Researchers made a note of the participants' social behaviour and examined each therapy session. The team also made a note of the patients' mood, treatment motivation and satisfaction. Guinea pigs, miniature pigs, rabbits and sheep were among the animals that were part of the study.
Researchers from the Barrow Neurological Institute have also found a link between domestic violence and traumatic brain injury. "Head injuries are among the most common type suffered in domestic violence, which can lead to repetitive brain injuries that often have chronic, life-changing effects, much like what we see in athletes," lead researcher Zieman told a news portal. Adding, "We found that 88 per cent of these victims suffered more than one head injury as a result of their abuse and 81 per cent reported too many injuries to count."
Treating brain injuries is crucial as it can lead to dementia and Alzheimer's disease, according to another study. The study, published in the journal The Lancet Psychiatry, found teenagers who experience a brain injury can develop dementia later on in life.
“The injuries including falls, accidents and assaults in 20s could develop the most common cause of dementia in 50s or 60s, which is Alzheimer's," neurologist Dr Satish Kumar told a news portal. Adding, "The disruptions in the nervous system due to injuries affect memory in most instances.”
The study's results showed severe traumatic brain injury increased the risk by 35 per cent, while mild traumatic brain injury increases the risk by 17 per cent. The team also found the risk is higher for men.