Publisher Correction: Effects of animal-assisted psychotherapy incorporating mindfulness and self-compassion in neurorehabilitation: a randomized controlled feasibility trial.

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Effects of animal-assisted psychotherapy incorporating mindfulness and self-compassion in neurorehabilitation: a randomized controlled feasibility trial.

Transdiagnostic psychotherapeutic approaches are increasingly used in neurorehabilitation to address psychological distress. Animal-assistance is thought to increase efficacy. The present study evaluates a psychotherapeutic mindfulness- and self-compassion-based group intervention (MSCBI) with and without animal-assistance for patients with acquired brain injury. Patients (N = 31) were randomly assigned to the 6-week intervention with (n = 14) or without animal-assistance (n = 17). Primary outcome was psychological distress at post- and follow-up treatment, secondary outcomes were changes within-session of patients' emotional states, adherence to treatment and attrition. Psychological distress significantly decreased in both groups from pre- to follow-up treatment with no difference between groups. Patients in the animal-assisted MSCBI group reported significantly higher increases in feeling secure, accepted, comforted, grateful, motivated and at ease during the sessions compared to patients in the MSCBI group without animal-assistance. Adherence to sessions was significantly higher in the animal-assisted MSCBI group. Attrition did not significantly differ between groups. Our results show that both MSCBIs with and without animal-assistance are feasible and effective in reducing psychological distress in patients with acquired brain injury. The significant changes within-sessions mainly in relationship-based emotional states and the higher treatment adherence suggest additional effects of animal-assistance. Animal-assistance might increase acceptability and patients' commitment to psychotherapy

Tetraparesis following an Anterior Circulation Stroke: A Case Report

The azygos anterior cerebral artery (AACA) is a large single anterior cerebral artery that supplies both medial territories of the anterior cerebral hemispheres. Occlusion of the AACA can result, therefore, in bifrontal infarction. We report a patient who suffered from a tetraparesis following a bilateral anterior cerebral artery territory infarction due to an occluded AACA and provide a brief review of the literature

Animal-assisted therapy for patients in a minimally conscious state : a randomized two treatment multi-period crossover trial

To investigate if animal-assisted therapy (AAT) leads to higher consciousness in patients in a minimally conscious state during a therapy session, measured via behavioral reactions, heart rate and heart rate variability.; In a randomized two treatment multi-period crossover trial, 10 patients in a minimally conscious state participated in eight AAT sessions and eight paralleled conventional therapy sessions, leading to 78 AAT and 73 analyzed control sessions. Patients' responses during sessions were assessed via behavioral video coding and the Basler Vegetative State Assessment (BAVESTA), heart rate and heart rate variability (SDNN, RMSSD, HF and LF). Data were analyzed with generalized linear mixed models.; Patients showed more eye movements (IRR = 1.31, 95% CI: 1.23 to 1.40, p &lt; 0.001) and active movements per tactile input during AAT compared to control sessions (IRR = 1.13, 95% CI: 1.02 to 1.25, p = 0.018). No difference was found for positive emotions. With BAVESTA, patients' overall behavioral reactions were rated higher during AAT (b = 0.11, 95% CI: 0.01 to 0.22, p = 0.038). AAT led to significantly higher LF (b = 5.82, 95% CI: 0.55 to 11.08, p = 0.031) and lower HF (b = -5.80, 95% CI: -11.06 to -0.57, p = 0.030), while heart rate, SDNN, RMSSD did not differ.; Patients in a minimally conscious state showed more behavioral reactions and increased physiological arousal during AAT compared to control sessions. This might indicate increased consciousness during therapeutic sessions in the presence of an animal.; ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02629302

Diagnostic validity of the Basler Vegetative State Assessment - BAVESTA

Introduction: Clinical assessments should meet the general psychometric properties of reliability and validity. Furthermore there are requirements in matters of diagnostic validity and usability. In regards to patients with severe brain damage, both issues can mainly be implemented by detecting and assessing returning abilities as early as possible, in order to use them for treatment planning. Main aim of this article is to investigate whether the newly developed and validated interprofessional Basel Vegetative State Assessment (BAVESTA) meets these practice criteria. Method: Data were collected as part of validity assessment of BAVESTA. Using the Glasgow Coma Scale as a reference, predictive parameters and measures of effect are calculated. Moreover, expert users were interviewed and results are presented in a descriptive way. Results: With a sensitivity of 0.84 and a specificity of 0.85, the BAVESTA can be regarded as suitable in differentiating between vegetative state and further states of remission such as the minimally conscious state. Expert users regard BAVESTA as eligible for mapping rehabilitative process of patients with severely impaired consciousness. They agree upon the fact that all relevant areas are covered by BAVESTA. Discussion: The BAVESTA displays high levels of differentiation, in regards to both sensitivity and specificity. However, measures of effect ought generally to be regarded with caution, as reference standards have not been developed for the area of rehabilitation. Considering time expenditure, BAVESTA is rated as only marginally feasible by expert users. It should be continued to investigate BAVESTA in regards to its diagnostic quality, integrating electrophysical diagnostic tools as reference standards

Effects of animal-assisted therapy on social behaviour in patients with acquired brain injury : a randomised controlled trial

Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) is increasingly used to address impaired social competence in patients with acquired brain injury. However, the efficacy of AAT has not been tested in these patients. We used a randomised, controlled within subject trial to determine the effects of AAT on social competence in patients undergoing stationary neurorehabilitation. Participants received both AAT sessions and paralleled conventional therapy sessions. The patients' social behaviour was systematically coded on the basis of video recordings of therapy sessions. Moreover, mood, treatment motivation and satisfaction was measured during each therapy session. We analysed 222 AAT and 219 control sessions of 19 patients with linear mixed models. Patients showed a significantly higher amount of social behaviour during AAT. Furthermore, patients' positive emotions, verbal and non-verbal communication, mood, treatment motivation and satisfaction were increased in the presence of an animal. Neutral emotions were reduced but no effect was found regarding negative emotions. Our results show that AAT increases aspects of social competence and leads to higher emotional involvement of patients with acquired brain injury, reflected in higher social engagement, motivation and satisfaction during a therapeutic session

Is animal-assisted therapy for minimally conscious state beneficial? A case study

The goal of this single case study was to qualitatively investigate the effects of animal-assisted therapy in a patient in a minimally conscious state.; We present a 28-year-old female patient in a minimally conscious state following polytrauma after a sports accident leading to cerebral fat embolism causing multiple CNS ischemic lesions. She received eight animal-assisted therapy sessions and eight paralleled control therapy sessions over 4 weeks. We investigated the reactions of the patient during these sessions; via; qualitative behavior analysis.; The patient showed a broader variability and higher quality of behavior during animal-assisted therapy compared to control therapy sessions.; The observed behavioral changes showed higher arousal and increased awareness in the presence of an animal. The presented case supports the assumption that animal-assisted therapy can be a beneficial treatment approach for patients in a minimally conscious state

Effects of contact with a dog on prefrontal brain activity: A controlled trial

BACKGROUND There is a broad range of known effects of animal contact on human mental and physical health. Neurological correlates of human interaction with animals have been sparsely investigated. We investigated changes in frontal brain activity in the presence of and during contact with a dog. METHODS Twenty-one healthy individuals each participated in six sessions. In three sessions, participants had contact with a dog, and in three control sessions they interacted with a plush animal. Each session had five two-minute phases with increasing intensity of contact to the dog or plush animal from the first to the fourth phase. We measured oxygenated, deoxygenated, and total hemoglobin and oxygen saturation of the blood in the frontal lobe/frontopolar area with functional near-infrared spectroscopy (SenSmart Model X-100) to assess brain activity. FINDINGS In both conditions, the concentration of oxygenated hemoglobin increased significantly from the first to the fourth phase by 2.78 μmol/l (CI = 2.03-3.53, p < .001). Oxygenated hemoglobin concentration was 0.80 μmol/l higher in the dog condition compared to in the control condition (CI = 0.27-1.33, p = .004). Deoxygenated-hemoglobin concentration, total hemoglobin concentration, and oxygen saturation showed similar patterns. CONCLUSION Prefrontal brain activation in healthy subjects increased with the rise in interaction closeness with a dog or a plush animal. Moreover, interaction with a dog stimulated more brain activity compared to the control condition, suggesting that interactions with a dog can activate stronger attentional processes and elicit more emotional arousal than interacting with a nonliving stimulus

Effects of contact with a dog on prefrontal brain activity: a controlled trial

Background There is a broad range of known effects of animal contact on human mental and physical health. Neurological correlates of human interaction with animals have been sparsely inves- tigated. We investigated changes in frontal brain activity in the presence of and during con- tact with a dog. Methods Twenty-one healthy individuals each participated in six sessions. In three sessions, partici- pants had contact with a dog, and in three control sessions they interacted with a plush ani- mal. Each session had five two-minute phases with increasing intensity of contact to the dog or plush animal from the first to the fourth phase. We measured oxygenated, deoxygenated, and total hemoglobin and oxygen saturation of the blood in the frontal lobe/frontopolar area with functional near-infrared spectroscopy (SenSmart Model X-100) to assess brain activity. Findings In both conditions, the concentration of oxygenated hemoglobin increased significantly from the first to the fourth phase by 2.78 μmol/l (CI = 2.03-3.53, p < .001). Oxygenated hemoglo- bin concentration was 0.80 μmol/l higher in the dog condition compared to in the control con- dition (CI = 0.27-1.33, p = .004). Deoxygenated-hemoglobin concentration, total hemoglobin concentration, and oxygen saturation showed similar patterns. Conclusion Prefrontal brain activation in healthy subjects increased with the rise in interaction closeness with a dog or a plush animal. Moreover, interaction with a dog stimulated more brain activity compared to the control condition, suggesting that interactions with a dog can activate stron- ger attentional processes and elicit more emotional arousal than interacting with a nonliving stimulus

Intermittent Myokymia as a Pointer to Hemangioblastoma of the Cervical Spine: A Case Report

Hemangioblastomas represent 3% of all central nervous system (CNS) tumors. The majority of CNS hemangioblastomas are infratentorial, with the cerebellum being the most frequent location, while 13% are found in the brainstem. Symptoms of brainstem hemangioblastomas can be very subtle and might therefore be overlooked or misinterpreted. We report the case of a patient with a hemangioblastoma at the junction of the medulla oblongata and the cervical spine and provide a brief review of the literature