Animal-Assisted Therapy in Women With Severe-To-Profound Intellectual Disability: A Longitudinal Qualitative Study in Long-Stay Residential Care Within a Psychiatric Hospital.

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.