Animal-assisted therapy (AAT)
Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) is a therapeutic approach that utilizes interactions between patients and specially trained animals to enhance emotional, cognitive, and social well-being. Originating from a pivotal study in the 1980s, AAT has gained recognition for its potential benefits across various settings, including hospitals, schools, and prisons. Therapy animals, predominantly dogs, are known to alleviate anxiety, lower blood pressure, and improve healing by providing comfort and companionship to individuals facing psychological or emotional challenges.
AAT has shown particular efficacy for those dealing with psychiatric conditions, trauma, or chronic illnesses, such as PTSD in veterans or anxiety in children undergoing cancer treatment. In addition to therapy animals, assistance animals, which perform specific tasks for people with disabilities, play a vital role in supporting individuals with mobility or sensory challenges. While research into AAT has indicated positive psychosocial outcomes, there is a call for further studies to rigorously evaluate its efficacy and the best practices for different populations. AAT emphasizes the nurturing bond between humans and animals, promoting mental health and emotional support across a diverse range of circumstances.
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Animal-assisted therapy (AAT)
The idea that animals could play an important part in human well-being was first considered seriously in 1980, when E. Friedmann and colleagues conducted a ground-breaking scientific experiment that showed that people who owned pets lived longer than people who do not own pets. This study became the catalyst for many more studies documenting the ways in which animals can help people heal physically and psychologically. The concept of animal-assisted therapy (AAT) holds that animals can positively impact a patient’s cognitive, emotional, or social well-being. Toward this end, many facilities encourage interaction between patients and specially trained or chosen animals to brighten moods, lower blood pressure, and alleviate anxiety.
Overview
Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) has been used to help people in a variety of settings, including hospitals, prisons, group homes, and schools. In hospitals, therapy animals, which are usually dogs, can have a calming effect that helps the patient manage pain and enhance healing. With cardiac patients, for example, interaction with animals resulted in the patients’ exhibiting much lower blood-pressure and stress hormone levels.
AAT provides the greatest benefit for those suffering from psychiatric illnesses or other psychological and emotional crises, such as those suffering from schizophrenia, dementia, and survivors of sexual assault. Stroking an animal can have a calming effect, and they can also serve as a nonjudgmental and nonthreatening companion. Patients benefiting from AAT include children who have experienced neglect or sexual abuse, soldiers suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, persons grieving the loss of a loved one, and those suffering the trauma of having a parent or spouse leave on active military duty. AAT is also highly beneficial among children undergoing cancer treatment, helping them deal with isolation, uncertainty, fear, and depression. Some studies indicate that AAT with children who have autism is beneficial. These animals also help the parents and siblings of these children, as has been documented in a 2010 study and review of the scientific literature, cosponsored by the American Humane Association and Pfizer Animal Health.
The use of an assistance animal is another type of AAT in which a well-trained dog—Golden retrievers are a popular breed—performs specific tasks for persons with disabilities. According to the International Association of Assistance Dog Partners, there are three types of assistance animals: guide animals for the blind, hearing animals for the deaf, and service animals for those with limited mobility. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, no organization (except for religious organizations) may deny access to a service animal, and under the Fair Housing Act, even residences that have policies prohibiting pets must allow service animals. The American Humane Association sponsors service animals for veterans, and assists them in adopting a suitable dog from a shelter. Unlike service animals, comfort animals do not perform tasks; they simply provide emotional comfort to someone in need.
Therapy Dogs International is an organization that evaluates, tests, and trains dogs for visiting nursing homes, hospitals, and other institutions. Besides dogs, dolphins, horses (for two variations on AAT known as equine therapy and hippotherapy), and capuchin monkeys have also been used in AAT. Pet Partners is a US nonprofit organization that conducts research into the effects of AAT on individuals.
In 2015, Australian researchers published a systematic review of randomized controlled trials of AAT and its effect on psychosocial outcomes. In their review, the researchers found that existing research suggests that animal-assisted interventions may benefit many individuals, but that more research with randomized controlled trials would help explore which animal-assisted interventions might be most beneficial for people with specific needs. Other clinicians and reviewers have pointed out methodological flaws with prior AAT clinical trials as well as bias in favor of publishing positive AAT experiment results over negative results.
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