There have been many studies done concerning animal-assisted therapy and the benefits of this fairly new medicine. Many conclusions have been drawn on the affects of this treatment on many aspects of a patient's health and life. These include but are not limited too:
Less stress, depression, and anxiety in the recipients of this treatment. Having an animal in a therapy process can help the patient to feel more at ease and not as worried. A study was also done by Barker and Dawson that looked at the anxiety ratings of psychiatric patients after they had a session of AAT. It was found that after taking a State-Trait Anxiety Inventory Test, the levels of anxiety were reduced in all patients after a session of aat.Reducing symptoms of certain disease. A study done by Aaron Katcher found that children with an attention-decficit order that spend at least 4 hours a week with animals had within 3 months a decrease in the symptoms of their diseases. It has been found that AAT can help memory recall in patients and instill in them a sense of reality.
Better survival rates. The first study ever done on AAT looked at the affects of AAT on survival rates of patients after being discharged from a CCU. Of the 14 patients that died, 3(6%) of the 53 who did have a pet died, while 11(28%) of the 39 that did not have a pet died. This helps to manifest that pets can have a significant impact on our health and how well we can recover from things.
Unconditional love. It has been found that animals can be a great source of comfort and joy in people. Patients look foward to the animal's visits and are more sociable when they are around. Animals have always had a love for people that go beyond looks and personality, they love everyone because they are people who pet them and are alive. It is a great bond that we have with animals and dogs. Animals give companionship to people who might not have anyone to go home to or to love them.
Physiological differences such as a lower blood pressure and/or heart rate. Studies done, such as the one by Dr. Karne Allen, have found that petting and having an animal can reduce blood pressure. Dr. Allen did a study with stockbrokers who had hypertention; she let some of them adopt a pet and found that their blood pressures had dropped significantly after a few weeks of having them around. It has also been found that AAT can result in lower heart rates, cholestrol, and triglyceride values. Because most of these factors contribute to heart disease, it can also be said that AAT can reduce the likelihood of cardiac problems in people, and therefore they can live longer, more rewarding lives.
Assistance with motor skills. People improve their motor skills by playing with the animals. When they do things like pet the animals, they improve the small motor skills in their hands. When they do things like play ball with a dog or animal, they are improving the large motor skills in their arms. This can help to improve coordination and balance for the patients playing with the animals.
Further learning and communication skills. Patients can further their learning with AAT by learning about the animal they are having therapy with. The can give commands to the animals to help with their communication skills. Animal-assisted therapy also stimulates a patient's sensory organs because they can watch and track the dog with their eyes and improve their motivation to do other things.
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Who, Where, and When
My Visit to the Hospital
Preparation to Participate in AAT
