[Assessment of the effects of ornithotherapy in psychiatric patients with intellectual disabilities].

Authors

Enikő Veress, Henrik Péter Szőke

Published in

Orvosi hetilap. Volume 167. Issue 28. Pages 1105-1112. Jul 12, 2026. Epub Jul 12, 2026.

Abstract

Animal-assisted therapies are increasingly applied in rehabilitation and complementary care, particularly in supporting mental and neurocognitive conditions. The targeted therapeutic use of songbirds and their vocalizations (ornithotherapy) represents a relatively novel approach that remains underrepresented in the international literature, especially regarding objectively measurable physiological outcomes.
The aim of our study was to evaluate the effects of an ornithotherapy intervention on blood pressure and pulse rate in a residential institution caring for individuals with intellectual disabilities, compared to corresponding periods before and after the intervention.
A retrospective analysis was conducted covering the period between 2022 and 2025. Documented blood pressure and pulse data of residents were analyzed. The intervention took place between October 17, 2023, and March 15, 2024, during which birdsong was played on weekdays for 10 minutes daily in communal areas. Data from the intervention period were compared with corresponding control periods.
Generalized Estimating Equation analyses showed consistent cardiovascular patterns across the three years. A statistically significant change was observed only in systolic blood pressure during the intervention year. Mean systolic blood pressure values in 2023 were significantly lower compared to 2022, with an estimated reduction of approximately 2-3 mmHg. No significant changes were found in diastolic blood pressure or pulse rate.
These findings suggest that auditory intervention may exert a modest but measurable effect on systolic blood pressure, while diastolic blood pressure and pulse remain unaffected.
Birdsong-based auditory stimulation appears to have a moderate and selective effect on systolic blood pressure. Ornithotherapy may represent a low-cost, easily applicable complementary approach in institutional care. Further prospective studies are warranted to better define its therapeutic potential. Orv Hetil. 2026; 167(28): 1105-1112.

PMID:
42437466
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 12 Jul 2026.

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