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Animal-assisted therapy–a new trend in the treatment of children and adults.
Abstract: Animal-assisted therapy is a familiar method of treatment in the rehabilitation of many illnesses and conditions, but is still not applied sufficiently in our milieu. This paper gives an overview of the available literature and some of the research which demonstrates that the interaction between the patient, animal and therapist provides a context which improves communication, elevates self-confidence, reduces the symptoms of diseases, and improves the quality of life. The dog, cat, horse, birds and toy animals are most often used in therapy. Short-term contacts with animals are used, as well as long term keeping of animals, which are looked after by patients following a particular methodology. The therapy is used in the treatment of psychiatric patients afflicted with depression, schizophrenia, phobias and addiction problems. Loneliness is easier to endure in the company of animals. It is also applied in cardiovascular diseases, dementia, Alzheimer's disease, child cerebral paralysis, rheumatoid arthritis, AIDS, and other diseases. Research shows a more rapid reduction of symptoms of many diseases when animals are included in the therapeutic process.
Publication Date: 2009-06-27 PubMed ID: 19556955 The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
Summary
This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.
The research article explores the use of animal-assisted therapy in the treatment of various psychological and physiological ailments, highlighting its effectiveness in improving communication, self-confidence, symptom reduction, and quality of life through patient-animal-therapist interaction dynamics.
Understanding Animal-assisted Therapy
- The paper emphasizes the benefits of animal-assisted therapy, a method of treatment which utilizes the interaction between patients, animals, and therapists to offer therapeutic relief.
- While widely recognized for its benefits, the study notes that this form of therapy is not used extensively in certain regions or practice settings.
Research on Animal-assisted Therapy
- Various research sources and literature were gathered and analyzed to present a comprehensive understanding of this therapy.
- The studies cited outline the positive effects of animal-human interaction, including improved communication, enhanced self-confidence, symptom alleviation, and improved overall quality of life.
Types of Animals Used
- The study discusses different kinds of animals usually employed in this therapy, including dogs, cats, horses, and birds. Toy animals can also be used sometimes.
- It also distinguishes between short-term interactions and long-term animals keeping, indicating the therapeutic methods can vary according to specific patient needs or preferences.
Conditions Treated with Animal-assisted Therapy
- The therapy is noted to be useful for treating a variety of psychiatric conditions such as depression, schizophrenia, various phobias and addiction issues.
- Additionally, it highlights its positive effects on physiological conditions such as cardiovascular diseases, dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, child cerebral paralysis, rheumatoid arthritis, AIDS, and other diseases. The presence of animals can make dealing with isolation and loneliness more manageable, especially for patients suffering from chronic diseases.
Efficacy of Animal-assisted Therapy
- The research concludes with evidence showing that the inclusion of animals in the healing process can lead to a quicker reduction of symptoms in many diseases.
- Despite these promising results, the article suggests that animal-assisted therapy is still underutilized, indicating the need for more awareness and adoption in treatment settings.
Cite This Article
APA
Dimitrijević I.
(2009).
Animal-assisted therapy–a new trend in the treatment of children and adults.
Psychiatr Danub, 21(2), 236-241.
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Institute of Psychiatry, Clinical Center of Serbia, Pasterova 2, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia. dr.ivan54@yahoo.com
MeSH Terms
- Adult
- Aged
- Animals
- Animals, Domestic
- Cats
- Child
- Dogs
- Horses
- Humans
- Loneliness / psychology
- Mental Disorders / psychology
- Mental Disorders / therapy
- Psychotherapy / methods
- Psychotherapy, Group
Citations
This article has been cited 12 times.- Liguori G, Costagliola A, Lombardi R, Paciello O, Giordano A. Human-Animal Interaction in Animal-Assisted Interventions (AAI)s: Zoonosis Risks, Benefits, and Future Directions-A One Health Approach. Animals (Basel) 2023 May 9;13(10).
- Rodrigo-Claverol M, Manuel-Canals M, Lobato-Rincón LL, Rodriguez-Criado N, Roman-Casenave M, Musull-Dulcet E, Rodrigo-Claverol E, Pifarré J, Miró-Bernaus Y. Human-Animal Bond Generated in a Brief Animal-Assisted Therapy Intervention in Adolescents with Mental Health Disorders. Animals (Basel) 2023 Jan 20;13(3).
- Fridén L, Hultsjö S, Lydell M, Jormfeldt H. Relatives' experiences of an equine-assisted intervention for people with psychotic disorders. Int J Qual Stud Health Well-being 2022 Dec;17(1):2087276.
- Sahebalzamani M, Rezaei O, Moghadam LF. Animal-assisted therapy on happiness and life quality of chronic psychiatric patients living in psychiatric residential care homes: a randomized controlled study. BMC Psychiatry 2020 Dec 1;20(1):575.
- Machová K, Juríčková V, Nekovářová T, Svobodová I. Validation of the Human-Animal Interaction Scale (HAIS) in Czech Language. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2020 Oct 15;17(20).
- Machová K, Procházková R, Konigová P, Svobodová I, Přibylová L, Vadroňová M. Acceptability of AAI from the Perspective of Elderly Clients, Family Members, and Staff-A Pilot Study. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2020 Aug 18;17(16).
- Rodrigo-Claverol M, Casanova-Gonzalvo C, Malla-Clua B, Rodrigo-Claverol E, Jové-Naval J, Ortega-Bravo M. Animal-Assisted Intervention Improves Pain Perception in Polymedicated Geriatric Patients with Chronic Joint Pain: A Clinical Trial. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2019 Aug 9;16(16).
- Sánchez-Valdeón L, Fernández-Martínez E, Loma-Ramos S, López-Alonso AI, Bayón Darkistade E, Ladera V. Canine-Assisted Therapy and Quality of Life in People With Alzheimer-Type Dementia: Pilot Study. Front Psychol 2019;10:1332.
- Cherniack EP, Cherniack AR. The benefit of pets and animal-assisted therapy to the health of older individuals. Curr Gerontol Geriatr Res 2014;2014:623203.
- Püllen R, Coy M, Hunger B, Koetter G, Spate M, Richter A. [Animal-assisted therapy for demented patients in acute care hospitals]. Z Gerontol Geriatr 2013 Apr;46(3):233-6.
- Torquati B, Angelucci G, Diverio S. Cow-Assisted Interventions in Social Farming: First Results of a Pilot Study. Animals (Basel) 2025 Oct 13;15(20).
- Liu H, Lin J, Lin W. Cognitive mechanisms and neurological foundations of companion animals' role in enhancing human psychological well-being. Front Psychol 2024;15:1354220.
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