Enhancing Mental Health Treatments
According to a study conducted by Facty.com, it has been found that one in five children between the ages of 13 and 18 suffer from mood, conduct, and behavior disorders. However, there is promising research that suggests canine-assisted psychotherapy (CAP) can greatly improve the effectiveness of mental health treatments. A systematic review published in the PLoS journal has provided evidence that CAP can enhance standard treatments for a variety of disorders including post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, anger, and internalizing and externalizing disorders.
In addition to its therapeutic benefits, animal-assisted intervention has been found to increase socialization and engagement among individuals and reduce disruptive behaviors. This indicates that incorporating animals into mental health treatments can have a positive impact on overall well-being and progress.
Fighting Cancer
Dealing with cancer is an extremely difficult and heartbreaking battle that unfortunately takes the lives of nearly 9 million people worldwide every year. However, there is some promising research indicating that animal-assisted therapy may be able to provide some relief by reducing stress and feelings of loneliness in children with cancer. Additionally, it has been found that this type of therapy can also serve as a motivating factor for these young patients to adhere to their treatment protocols. A study conducted by Mount Sinai Beth Israel discovered that adults undergoing chemotherapy and radiation treatments experienced an improvement in their overall quality of life and emotional well-being through the use of pet therapy.