Table 2. Study characteristics and design.
| No. | 1st Author | Year | Intervention Goals | Design | Sample Size | Quality | Level of evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Hamama, L. (Israel) |
2011 | To reduce the psychological distress (i.e. depression & PTSD symptoms) and improve psychosocial functioning (self-confidence & subjective wellbeing) among teenage girls who were exposed to physical or sexual abuse in group counselling incorporating a canine | Pre-post longitudinal design, and a cross-sectional design comparing I to C | I = 9 C = 9 |
Fair | III-2 |
| 2 |
Hanselman, J. L. (USA) |
2001 | To reduce violent behaviours including the prevention of animal abuse, and increase pro-social behaviours, empathy & self-awareness during an Anger Management Group incorporating a canine | A-B-A design where A = baseline (before); B = intervention (during) and A = outcome (after) | I = 7 | Poor | IV |
| 3 |
Hartwig, E. (USA) |
2017 | To increase self-concept, and decrease anxiety, depression, anger and disruptive behaviour in youth with emotional and psychosocial difficulties in individual therapy with a canine, over and above therapy without the canine. | Randomized comparison group design | I = 15 C = 14 |
Fair | III-1 |
| 4 |
Lange, A. M. (USA) |
2007 | To explore the experiences of adolescents in an anger management counselling group that included a canine | Exploratory study using qualitative interviewing and observations | I = 5 | Poor | IV |
| 5 |
Lubbe, C. (South Africa) |
2013 | To retrospectively analyse the role of a canine in individual counselling for a traumatized adolescent with a history of family dysfunction | Qualitative interview and (retrospective) document analysis | I = 1 | Fair | IV |
| 6 |
Stefanini, M. C. (Italy) |
2015 | To improve clinical outcomes (global functioning, self-perceived internalizing and externalizing problems) and observed behaviour patterns for psychiatric inpatients involved in individual and group sessions with a canine, over and above standard hospital treatment | Pre-post experimental design with RCT | I = 17 C = 17 |
Good | II |
| 7 |
Stefanini, M. C. (Italy) |
2016 | To improve self-perceived emotional and behavioural symptoms, clinical outcomes, and observed behaviour patterns in adolescents with acute psychiatric disorders involved in individual and group sessions with a canine, over and above standard hospital (inpatient) treatment (TAU). | Pre-post experimental design with RCT | I = 20 C = 20 |
Good | II |
I = Intervention group or experimental group, C = Control or Comparison group, RCT = Randomised Controlled Trial; PTSD = Post Traumatic Stress Disorder; TAU = Treatment as Usual