Simple SummaryA growing number of people are supported by specialized service dogs. These dogs are highly trained to improve human welfare, yet not much is known about their own welfare. One of the... Show moreSimple SummaryA growing number of people are supported by specialized service dogs. These dogs are highly trained to improve human welfare, yet not much is known about their own welfare. One of the ways in which welfare can be measured is through the expression of stress via the hormone cortisol. In this study, we investigated the level of cortisol in saliva, a measure for physiological stress, in 19 service dogs. We measured cortisol in the dogs' saliva 15 min after arrival at a training ground, before partaking in a training session for service dogs, after participation in the training session, and after a 45-min free play period. We found no elevated levels of cortisol after the training session. Instead, we found that cortisol had lowered when compared to before the training. Additionally, we found that cortisol was highest 15 min after arriving at the training round and after 45 min of free play. This led to the conclusion that dogs in our study did not seem to have a stress response in response to participation in the training.Only a few studies have investigated the welfare of animals participating in animal-assisted interventions (AAIs). Most of these studies focus on dogs in therapeutic settings. There are, however, also dogs-service dogs-that are employed to continuously support a single human. Because the welfare of these service dogs is important for the sustainability of their role, the aim of this study was to investigate their stress response to service dog training sessions. To do this, we took repeated salivary cortisol samples from dogs who participated in a training session (n = 19). Samples were taken just after arrival at the training ground, before training, after training, and after a period of free play. Our results showed that mean cortisol levels in all samples were relatively low (between 1.55 +/- 1.10 and 2.73 +/- 1.47 nmol/L) compared to similar studies. Analysis further showed that samples taken before and after participation in the training's session did not differ from one another. Mean cortisol levels in both situations were additionally lower than those upon arrival at the training site and after a period of free play. This led to the conclusion that the dogs in our study did not seem to experience training as stressful. Show less
Hauber, K.; Boon, A.; Kuipers, G.; Vermeiren, R. 2020
The aim of this study in a high-risk adolescent sample with personality disorders receiving intensive mentalisation-based treatment (MBT), was first, to examine deviations in insecure attachment... Show moreThe aim of this study in a high-risk adolescent sample with personality disorders receiving intensive mentalisation-based treatment (MBT), was first, to examine deviations in insecure attachment distribution of the normative pattern, and in borderline personality disorder and other personality disorders; second, to explore whether MBT alters attachment representations and whether these alterations are related to changes in psychological distress. A total of 60 adolescents were investigated pre-treatment for both categorical and continuous measures of the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI). Pre- and post-AAI (N = 33) data were compared with psychological distress measured by the Symptom Checklist-90. While the most disturbed category of insecure attachment, the "cannot classify" category, was overrepresented (46.7%) at pre-treatment, no differences were observed by type of personality disorder. At post-treatment, 48.5% of the participants showed positive change in the attachment representation, and their psychological distress lowered significantly (p = .002). The whole sample demonstrated change towards increased secure attachment (z = -2.85, p = .004). Attachment insecurity was found in all adolescent personality disorders which MBT seemed to be able to alter. However, as we included no control group, we cannot conclude that changes are due to the treatment itself. Show less
Reiner, I.; Bakermans-Kranenburg, M.J.; Van IJzendoorn, M.H.; Fremmer-Bombik, E.; Beutel, M. 2016
The current study examined the effects of oxytocin administration on the response to infant crying in individuals with secure or insecure attachment representations as assessed with the Adult... Show moreThe current study examined the effects of oxytocin administration on the response to infant crying in individuals with secure or insecure attachment representations as assessed with the Adult Attachment Interview. We measured feelings of irritation and the use of excessive force as indicated by grip strength using a handgrip dynamometer during exposure to infant crying in 42 women without children who were administered intranasal oxytocin or a placebo. In addition, amygdala responses to infant crying and control sounds were measured with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). The effects of oxytocin on reactivity to crying were moderated by attachment security. Oxytocin decreased the use of excessive handgrip force and amygdala reactivity in response to crying in individuals with insecure attachment representations. Our findings indicate that insecure individuals, who show emotional, behavioral, and neural hyperreactivity to crying, benefit the most from intranasal oxytocin. Show less
