Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) can be helpful to improve the psychiatric, emotional, physical,and social status in patients with physical and mental illness and the elderly. The study aims to investigate the effects of AAT program in middle-aged and older patients with schizophrenia. The investigators will recruit 40 patients with schizophrenia in psychiatric ward randomised into AAT group and control group. AAT group will complete the 12-week program. This study contains two assessment sessions before and after intervention, including PANSS, ACIS, MoCA-T, CHI, DASS-21, CST, TUG and 5MWT.
Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) can be helpful to improve the outcomes of psychiatric and emotional symptoms, physical activeness, social skills, well-beings in patients with physical and mental illness and the elderly. The study aims to assess the applications and outcomes of psychiatric symptoms, social skills, cognitive function, well-beings, emotional status and physical fitness of AAT program applied to middle-aged and older patients with chronic schizophrenia. The investigators will recruit 40 patients with chronic schizophrenia who were admitted to day care ward and rehabilitation ward, and conduct a randomized, controlled study. 40 patients will be stratified by the ward into AAT group and control group. AAT group will complete the 12-week program. This study contains two assessment sessions completed within one week before and after 12-week program. Subjects will be evaluated by the PANSS, ACIS, MoCA-T, CHI, DASS-21, CST, TUG and 5MWT in both sessions. Statistical analysis is examined using paired t-test to see whether there is a significant difference (based on p-value) between the scores of two assessment sessions in the AAT and control group, and using independent t-test to see whether there is a significant difference in the change scores of two assessment sessions between the 2 groups.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
Animal-Assisted Therapy is when animals are used in goal-directed treatment sessions. These goals can be physical, mental, emotional or social.
Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical Center
Kaohsiung City, Taiwan
Change scores of Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale
This test is used for measuring symptom severity of patients with schizophrenia.
Time frame: Baseline, immediate after treatment
Change scores of The Assessment of Communication and Interaction Skills
This test is an observational rating scale designed to measure communication and interaction skills.
Time frame: Baseline, immediate after treatment
Change scores of The Taiwanese version of Montreal Cognitive Assessment
This test is a cognitive screening test in the detection of mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease.
Time frame: Baseline, immediate after treatment
Change scores of Chinese Happiness Inventory
This test is a subjective measure of well-being.
Time frame: Baseline, immediate after treatment
Change scores of Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21
This test is a 21-item self report instrument for measuring depression, anxiety and tension/stress.
Time frame: Baseline, immediate after treatment
Change scores of Chair Stand Test
This test is to measure leg strength.
Time frame: Baseline, immediate after treatment
Change scores of Timed Up and Go
This test is to assess mobility, balance, walking ability, and fall risk in older adults.
Time frame: Baseline, immediate after treatment
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Change scores of The 5-Meter Walk Test
This test is to assess walking speed.
Time frame: Baseline, immediate after treatment