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Pet therapy program for antepartum high-risk pregnancies: a pilot study

Journal of Perinatology volume 34, pages 816–818 (2014)Cite this article

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Abstract

Objective:

This pilot study evaluated the potential benefits of pet therapy on symptoms of anxiety and depression in antepartum hospitalized women with high-risk pregnancies.

Study design:

Eighty-two women in a hospital-based setting completed the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and the Beck Depression Inventory before and after the pet therapy visit. For both questionnaires, paired t-test was used and adjusted P-values were obtained using the Hochberg step-up Bonferroni method.

Result:

The mean scores for depressive symptoms significantly improved from the pre-pet therapy (10.1±6.3) compared with the post-pet therapy (6.3±5.9) (P<0.0001). Likewise mean scores of the state anxiety significantly improved from the pre-pet therapy test (44.8±11.7) compared with the post-pet therapy (34.5±10.5) (P<0.001).

Conclusion:

Pet therapy significantly reduced anxiety and depression in antepartum hospitalized women with high-risk pregnancies.

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Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge Bettina Knight at the UAMS Department of Psychiatry for evaluating patients with elevated depression scores. We also acknowledge Jennifer Huie and Erin Gray at the UAMS Volunteer Services for coordinating the pet therapy visits on the unit. Funding for this study was provided from internal departmental funds.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA

    C E Lynch & Z N Stowe

  2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA

    E F Magann, S N Barringer, D G Eastham, S D Lewis & Z N Stowe

  3. Department of Biostatistics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA,

    S T Ounpraseuth

  4. Department of Pediatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA,

    Z N Stowe

Authors
  1. C E Lynch
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  2. E F Magann
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  3. S N Barringer
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  4. S T Ounpraseuth
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  5. D G Eastham
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  6. S D Lewis
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  7. Z N Stowe
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to E F Magann.

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The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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Lynch, C., Magann, E., Barringer, S. et al. Pet therapy program for antepartum high-risk pregnancies: a pilot study. J Perinatol 34, 816–818 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1038/jp.2014.120

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/jp.2014.120

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