Animal‐Assisted Therapy in Women With Severe‐To‐Profound Intellectual Disability: A Longitudinal Qualitative Study in Long‐Stay Residential Care Within a Psychiatric Hospital
Filipe Silva Carvalho, Nídia Duarte, Joana PettaABSTRACT
Background
Evidence on animal‐assisted therapy for adults with severe or profound intellectual disabilities in supported residential settings remains limited.
Method
A longitudinal qualitative analysis of prospectively generated clinical and programme records was conducted in a long‐stay residential unit for women with severe or profound intellectual disabilities. The 12‐month programme comprised 40 weekly animal‐assisted therapy sessions based on structured interaction with the dogs. The sessions were delivered by practitioners formally trained in animal‐assisted interventions, accompanied by two trained therapy dogs. Records were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.
Results
Five themes were identified: increasing familiarity and observable engagement with the dogs; changes in observable psychomotor agitation; heterogeneous trajectories according to facilitation and support needs; anticipation, recognition and continuity across sessions; and the dogs as a shared focus for interpersonal interaction.
Conclusions
The programme was feasible to deliver alongside usual care and was associated with non‐linear patterns of observable participation and interaction.