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| Name | Class |
|---|---|
| Rehab Basel | OTHER |
| University of Basel | OTHER |
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There is practical evidence but no scientific investigations that persons with severe disorders of consciousness can profit from animal-assisted therapy regarding their level of awareness.
The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of animal-assisted therapy on brain activity of inpatients at REHAB Basel with severe disorders of consciousness.
To do so, the frontal brain activity of 20 the inpatients at REHAB Basel in a minimally conscious state is investigated via near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). Moreover, 20 healthy participants are included as control subjects.
Each participant will be measured in 6 sessions. Sessions take place three times a week for 2 weeks (leading up to a total of 3 experimental sessions and 3 control sessions), each lasting for about 15 minutes.
Each session consists of 5 phases, with an animal present in three of them. In the beginning, waiting (with no stimulus presented) serves as baseline measurement. Second, an animal is watched, then the animal is placed on the patient's lap and in the fourth condition, the patient can stroke the animal with the help of the present therapist. After, there is again a waiting condition.
Control sessions are comparable sessions but with a fur pet instead of a live animal as stimulus.
Measurements are: brain activity (near-infrared spectroscopy, NIRS), skin conductance (EDA), heart rate and heart rate variability assessed via photoplethysmography (PPG) during the sessions and the BAVESTA score after each session. For further behavior analysis all sessions are videotaped.
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| Label | Type | Description | Intervention Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| animal-assisted intervention | Experimental | the intervention is a real animal is presented in different forms to the participants |
|
| control intervention | Active Comparator | the control intervention is a stuffed toy animal is presented in different forms to the participants |
|
| Name | Type | Description | Arm Group Labels | Other Names |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| animal-assisted activity | Other | a live animal (small dog and/or rabbit) |
| |
| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS): oxygenated hemoglobin (O2HB), deoxygenated hemoglobin (HHB), total hemoglobin (HB) and blood oxygen saturation (O2Sat) | All parameters are measured in mmol/ml throughout the sessions, measured via NONIN SenSmart | 2 weeks |
| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Galvanic Skin Response | GSR is measured throughout the sessions via ERPrec, an EEG and ERP recording Software. Skin conductance is measured in μmho. | 2 weeks |
| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Heart rate / heart rate variability | Assessed via ERPrec (photoplethysmography (PPG)) | 2 weeks |
| Basel Vegetative State Assessment (BAVESTA) | The BAVESTA generates a score to assess function deficits in patients with severe disorders of consciousness. The scale ranges from 0 to 5 in total with a higher score indicating higher functioning in patients. Subscales of vegetative regulation, attention, orientation, emotional reactivity, verbal and nonverbal communication, motor activity and information processing are reported. |
Inclusion Criteria for patients:
Inclusion Criteria for healthy participants:
Exclusion Criteria:
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| Name | Affiliation | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Karin Hediger, Dr. phil. | Swiss TPH | Principal Investigator |
| Facility | Status | City | State | ZIP | Country | Contacts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| REHAB Basel | Basel | 4012 | Switzerland |
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| ID | Term |
|---|---|
| D003244 | Consciousness Disorders |
| D001930 | Brain Injuries |
| ID | Term |
|---|---|
| D019954 | Neurobehavioral Manifestations |
| D009461 | Neurologic Manifestations |
| D009422 | Nervous System Diseases |
| D012816 | Signs and Symptoms |
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| control activity |
| Other |
a stuffed toy animal |
|
| 2 weeks |
| Behavioral coding in Noldus Observer | All sessions are videotaped and then analyzed via behavioral coding and quantified as count variables. The variables motor activity, eye gaze, emotional reactions and communication are presented as the total number of displayed behavior percentaged to the duration of a session. | 2 weeks |
| D013568 | Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms |
| D019965 | Neurocognitive Disorders |
| D001523 | Mental Disorders |
| D001927 | Brain Diseases |
| D002493 | Central Nervous System Diseases |
| D006259 | Craniocerebral Trauma |
| D020196 | Trauma, Nervous System |
| D014947 | Wounds and Injuries |