Animal-assisted therapy — magic or medicine?

• Published in: Journal of psychosomatic research Vol. 49; no. 4; pp. 275 - 280
• Main Author: Odendaal, J.S.J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier Inc 01.10.2000; New York, NY Elsevier
• Subjects: Animal-assisted therapy; Animals; beta-Endorphin - blood; Biological and medical sciences; Bonding, Human-Pet; Case-Control Studies; Dogs - physiology; Dogs - psychology; Dopamine - blood; Emotions - physiology; Humans; Hydrocortisone - blood; Love; Medical sciences; Miscellaneous; Oxytocin - blood; Physiological aspects; Physiological parameters; Prolactin - blood; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Psychotherapies. Psychological and clinical counseling; Psychotherapy - methods; Reading; Theoretical basis; Therapy; Treatments; Animal-assisted therapy; Physiological parameters; Theoretical basis; Psychotherapy; Hydrocortisone; Glucocorticoid; Man animal relation; Protein hormone; Prolactin; Blood pressure; Mechanism of action; Dog; Human; Fissipedia; Carnivora; Dopamine; Healthy subject; Steroid hormone; Affiliation need; Experimental study; β-Endorphin; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Treatment; Adenohypophyseal hormone; Pet animal; Animal; Adrenal hormone; Mental disorder; Oxytocin(drug); Hemodynamics; Comparative study
• ISSN: 0022-3999; 1879-1360
• DOI: 10.1016/S0022-3999(00)00183-5

A sound theoretical basis supported by scientifically measured physiological parameters is needed to gain medical support for animal-assisted therapy. Six neurochemicals associated with a decrease in blood pressure were measured in humans ( n=18) and dogs ( n=18) before and after positive interaction. Results ( P<.05) indicated that in both species the neurochemicals involved with attention-seeking or attentionis egens behavior have increased. This information can be used as a rationale for animal-assisted therapy.