Gli Interventi Assistiti con gli Animali e salute mentale: efficacia transdiagnostica nel ciclo di vita

Titolo Rivista RIVISTA SPERIMENTALE DI FRENIATRIA
Autori/Curatori Caterina Ambrosi Zaiontz, Vittoria Ardino, Giovanni Bucci, Desirè Gaj
Anno di pubblicazione 2025 Fascicolo 2025/3
Lingua Italiano Numero pagine 32 P. 75-106 Dimensione file 783 KB
DOI 10.3280/RSF2025-003005
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La salute mentale comporta un impatto significativo sul funzionamento e sul benessere quotidiano delle persone. I dati evidenziano che i trattamenti tradizionali non sempre sono efficaci nella modulazione dei sintomi e nell’agire sulla resistenza al trattamento. D’altro canto, le terapie cosiddette complementari, come gli Interventi e le Terapie Assistite dagli Animali, attraverso la relazione essere umanoanimale, costituiscono un’importante integrazione o alternativa, come la recente letteratura scientifica ha dimostrato. Gli Interventi Assistiti con gli Animali rappresentano un intervento terapeuticoriabilitativo riconosciuto e normato dal Ministero della Salute italiano. L’obiettivo di questo contributo è di evidenziare il ruolo di tali interventi nel modulare gli esiti psicopatologici dovuti a diverse vulnerabilità nella sfera della salute mentale e nel favorire il benessere psicofisico lungo l’arco della vita. Nello specifico, il contributo evidenzia i meccanismi attraverso i quali la presenza dell’animale facilita il lavoro terapeutico, quali la coregolazione neurofisiologica ed emotiva, la mentalizzazione e il flow dei processi cognitivi nonché il consolidamento dello span di attenzione. L’efficacia degli interventi riguarda, inoltre, gli indicatori comportamentali, laddove siano presenti disfunzionalità, e le competenze psicosociali. L’articolo, inoltre, presenta due esemplificazioni di intervento: la prima riguarda l’ambito della salute mentale con un riferimento particolare al trauma psicologico e alle sue sindromi e il secondo fa riferimento al contesto geriatico dove gli studi mostrano l’efficacia nella riduzione dei sintomi ansiosodepressivi, nello stimolare la capacità riflessiva e la memoria di lavoro favorendo un aumento delle interazioni sociali; la seconda riguarda il lavoro su problematiche transdiagnostiche legate alla compromissione della regolazione emotiva (trauma, disturbi di personalità, antisocialità).

Parole chiave:regolazione emotiva, relazione essere umanocane, alleanza terapeutica, trauma, gerontologia, neurobiologia, linee guida.

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Caterina Ambrosi Zaiontz, Vittoria Ardino, Giovanni Bucci, Desirè Gaj, Gli Interventi Assistiti con gli Animali e salute mentale: efficacia transdiagnostica nel ciclo di vita in "RIVISTA SPERIMENTALE DI FRENIATRIA" 3/2025, pp 75-106, DOI: 10.3280/RSF2025-003005