The aim of behaviour therapy, also known as behaviour modification, is therefore to change behaviour patterns.
'Urinary marking is common in cats - it could be because he's being beaten up by other cats or another cat is coming in through the cat-flap.' If training and behaviour modification are unsuccessful, about one in 10 animal patients will be given antidepressants.
Self-management education programmes targeting patient education and behaviour modification were not more effective than usual clinical practice, information or other alternative therapies according to Kroon et al. [ 10].
RD-led dietary instruction in the areas of energy restriction, dietary change, exercise, and behaviour modification was proven more beneficial than frequent weigh-in visits without the RD present in promoting weight loss [ 9].
In addition, educational programmes using behaviour modification are useful to induce weight reduction, as our group previously reported [ 26], but physical exercise remains as the main long-term predictor for weight loss [ 27], and DPts with PVD have a reduced exercise capacity.
The attrition rates for these studies are very high as behaviour modifications were not a focus.
Treatment with psychoactive medication in parallel with a behaviour modification plan is well documented in the literature, but it is unknown if this is associated with an improvement in underlying affective state (emotion and mood) or simply an inhibition of the behaviour.
