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Nursing Research Paper
Nursing Research Paper
Nursing Research Paper
The Use of Pet Therapy Related to the Therapeutic Response in Mental Illness
Perla Diaz, Rachael Huey, Brooke Hunkus, Kali Kerpelis, Christopher Leymarie, Starla Nguyen
04/08/2020
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Abstract
Complementary therapies are commonly used along with conventional medical treatment in
those with mental health disorders. The purpose of this research was to examine the relationship
between pet therapy and its therapeutic benefits in various mental health disorders. Disorders in
focus in this research include Anxiety, Depression, Autism, Dementia, and Post-traumatic stress
disorder (PTSD). It was found that implementation of pet therapy, or animal therapy, can be
beneficial. Pet therapy helped increase socialization and reduce or control symptoms of mental
The Use of Pet Therapy Related to the Therapeutic Response in Mental Illness
Did you know that owning a pet has been studied and proven to be beneficial to one’s
mental health? According to the American Pet Products Association (2020), 67 percent of
American households, which amounts to nearly 85 million families, own a pet. In return, these
pets are supporting the mental health of millions. As a nurse, it must be recognized that many
people not only struggle with mental health disorders, but also possibly have an option to use
alternative therapies, such as pet therapy, rather than medication alone. Pet therapy, or otherwise
known as animal-assisted therapy, has been studied to show how the interaction between animals
and humans is beneficial to one’s mental, social, emotional, and physical functions. When
studied in more depth, pet therapy can have a therapeutic response with various mental illnesses.
In mental illnesses, what is the effect of pet therapy on therapeutic response and comfort? This
research examines the relationship between pet therapy and its therapeutic benefits in various
therapeutic program that involves animals meeting a specific criteria in the therapeutic process as
an integral and vital part of it, aiming at improving the cognitive, emotional, social and physical
functions of the patient” (1898). The group of doctors and a registered nurse in Greece studied
an animal’s presence as a form of treatment along with the benefits in which they present to
those who have mental illnesses. It is noted that throughout the study, pet therapy is found to be
beneficial and supportive of all age groups. Initially in the study, the group noticed that animals
naturally relieve and relax people from daily stressors. In fact, the patients describe the
environment to be “more friendly and less threatening” with an animal presence which, in turn,
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would create a more relaxed atmosphere. Additionally, the group noticed that the benefits of pet
therapy was directly related to the physical contact, whether it is petting or touching, between the
patient and the pet. Aside from physical touch, the group noticed that when the patients were
around animals, they would release endorphins and serotonin. The release of these chemicals
create both feelings of happiness and calmness. The group studied that animals provided the
patients with the opportunity to participate in physical activities, which released endorphins and
created an increased mood. Simultaneously, stress hormones, such as cortisol and adrenaline,
were reduced. Those with mental illness tend to feel powerless and may rely on others to care for
them. Through the study, the group noticed that even just the presence of an animal encourages
one to care more for themselves and do more daily tasks. With the accomplishment of self-care
and daily tasks, the patient begins to build self-confidence and a sense of self. It is also noted that
mental illness can cause one to be socially withdrawn. The study revealed that animals can make
good companions and proved to help one with improving social skills. In the end, the group
concluded the pet therapy benefits those with mental illnesses with positive changes in mental,
A second study was conducted by Brooks et. al (2016) in Manchester and had focused on
taking a deeper look on the effects of pet related support networks toward mental health
recovery. The group in this study focused more on the importance of a good social network and
how that relates to a positive effect on mental health. The group emphasized the importance of a
social network by stating, “having a support network in place provides options for the
management of living everyday life with a mental health problem”(409). In this case, the study
focused on a group of adults, 18 and older, who were under the care of community-based mental
health services and received a diagnosis from a health professional of having a severe mental
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illness. As opposed to the first study, this study is quantitative and focused on percentages of
how patients ranked their pets in their social network. The group interviewed the participants and
asked them to create a network, using a series of circles, based on what was most important to
them. The central circle was designated for what was most important for the participant, the
second circle was for what was important but not as important as the first circle, and the third
circle was important but not as important as the first two circles. After collecting all the data, the
group determined that 60 percent of the participants recognized their pet as being central and
most important in their life. Meanwhile, 20 percent placed their pet in the second circle, 12
percent in the third circle, and the remaining 8 percent did not place their pet in any of the three.
The group determined that usually, one is able to rely on friends and family for daily support.
When one has weak human relationships, they are able to turn to their pet as an outlet for
companionship, love, and support. They came to this conclusion because those who did not have
close friends or family tended to have an intimate relationship with their pet and placed them as
more important in the social network. Additionally, those who did have strong human
relationships, in turn, either placed their pet on a less important circle or not on the network at
all. With this being said, pets can provide a trusting and supportive relationship for those
suffering with a mental illness that needs support that cannot be given through human
interaction.
imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome. It is the most common of all mental
disorders, and currently affects about one in thirteen people, which equates to 7.3 percent. Pet
therapy is a non pharmacological method that can be utilized in hospitals and outpatient settings
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to help patients to deal with anxiety. It is often used for patients with or at risk for mental health
problems, so it is a perfect method to help alleviate anxieties any patient may have. It is a form
of distraction for the patients and can often ease their anxieties about their diagnoses, any
America, n.d.).
An article written by Hinic et al. (2019), discusses a study they performed to evaluate the
effects of pet therapy visits on anxiety in children who are hospitalized. The sample included
children and adolescents hospitalized at the study site, spoke English, and were between the ages
of six and seventeen years old with no cognitive impairments. Study data collected was through
the STAIC S-Anxiety Scale as well as a researcher generated background and coping
questionnaire. The pets utilized for this study were therapy dogs that regularly visit pediatric
units. The study found that a brief pet therapy visit with the dog was more effective in reducing
state anxiety than a comparative activity such as doing a puzzle. Pet therapy is a distraction
method, and parents of the children hospitalized identify distraction as a strategy that is most
effective for their children to help cope with any stress the hospitalization and procedures give
them. Pet therapy is a technique that gives active, pleasant engagement on the part of the child
and the study also found that parents and families of the children who had the pet therapy visit
had increased satisfaction with their overall hospital experience. This study and its findings show
the significance pet therapy can play on the effects of anxiety on those in the hospital who are
struggling to cope with their diagnoses and upcoming procedures and surgeries.
In another article, Hudson (2016), discusses a study done on pet therapy on alleviating
anxieties in geriatric patients in resident facilities. Geriatric residents often have increased
anxiety and behavior disturbances, and treatments for these are more often than not
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pharmacological. The study sample included geriatric patients from ages 55 to 85 who were
diagnosed with anxiety or behavior symptoms and also live in a facility. Dogs were the pet of
choice for the therapy. The study found that there were improvements in multiple areas,
including anxious moods, tension, fears, insomnia, intellectual function, and depressed mood.
The study found that participants who were previously withdrawn, lacked initiative and had flat
affect, showed to have an increase in interactions with the therapy dog and even with other
participants in the study. Participants ended up being able to initiate feeding and petting the dog,
and even attempting to teach the therapy dog simple tricks. They were often found smiling and
talking about previous experiences with other pets and animals. A lot of participants were sad
when the study was over. This study and its results shows the importance of pet therapy on
anxiety and even on behavioral aspects. It also highlights the importance of non pharmacological
Pet therapy is found to be a very significant and important non pharmacological treatment
option to alleviate anxieties in patients in the hospital. This method of treatment is found to help
patients of many ages, ranging from children and adolescents in pediatric facilities to adult and
common and serious mental illness that negatively affects how one feels, thinks, and acts.
Depression causes feelings of sadness and/or a loss of interest in activities once enjoyed. It can
lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems and can decrease a person’s ability to
function at work and at home. Symptoms of depression occur for more than two weeks and
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include sadness, disinterest, changes in appetite and sleeping habits, loss of energy, difficulty
The relationship between pet therapy and depression has long been considered and
researched. Pet therapy is an alternative method that has been considered and implemented by
those seeking to treat symptoms of depression. Overall, the results of animal assisted therapy
indicates improved mood and reduction in symptoms of depression. When animal assisted
therapy is used with hospitalized patients, studies have also indicated an improvement in the
(Osorio & Silva, 2018). In a study conducted with pediatric oncology patients, a positive impact
on depressive symptoms of patients was observed. After spending only 30 minutes participating
in pet assisted therapy, patients saw significant improvement in pain levels, stress, irritation, and
symptoms of depression (Osorio & Silva, 2018). It was also discovered in this study that
A study conducted with residents of long term care facilities explored the effects of a
companion dog on depression levels of residents in a long term care facility. Eight men and eight
women were randomly selected and assigned to either a control group or an Animal Assisted
Activity group (AAA). The study showed that the residents in the AAA group had a difference in
found that pet therapy significantly reduced depression (Journal of Perinatology, 2014). The
psychological effects for these women may be profound due to hospitalization and pregnancy
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complications, all of which has been observed to increase depression (Journal of Perinatology,
2014).
therapy and depression. Pet facilitated therapy has been shown to reduce depression. In residents
of long term care facilities, pet therapy reduced depression, stress, and agitation, while increasing
activity, socialization, and providing a sense of touch and warmth. In pediatric oncology patients
and their caregivers, pet therapy was found to have many positive impacts, including a decrease
in pain, cortisol levels and depression (Osorio & Silva, 2018, p. 8). In hospitalized women with
high-risk pregnancies, facing potential complications, pet therapy was shown to decrease
depression, as well. Many studies have indicated that the use of pet therapy reduces symptoms of
depression. This is a positive finding that will have an impact on the alternative therapies used to
The Journal of Autism & Developmental Disorders (2019) describes Autism Spectrum
by persistent deficits in social communication and social interaction, and by restricted, repetitive
patterns of behavior, interests, or activities It is a spectrum so it is not one condition but each
individual has their own strengths and weaknesses, with their own challenges. Pet Therapy has
been a relatively new intervention for this condition and the results have been positive towards
improving social and verbal communication. And studies have been done with various animals
Pet therapy is a modality that has been used for various disorders, and various animals
have been used for each. One example of such is the use of equestrian therapy with Autism
Spectrum Disorder. It has been seen that there have been many benefits to horseback riding in
those with neurodevelopmental disabilities and those without. It has proven to improve balance,
posture, mental well-being, increase self esteem and muscle symmetry (Germone, et al., 2019).
A journal in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders (2019) discussed a study done
with horses and children with autism over a period of six months. The sample of the study
included a total of twenty-eight males between the ages of six to twelve. Each child had a
diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder and were verbal, with an IQ above seventy. The data was
collected using the Vineland Adaptive behavior scale, which measures in four areas:
Communication, Daily Living Skills, Socialization and Motor Skills. These boys were exposed
to horses and did activities with them like grooming, petting and riding them for approximately
an hour a week for six months. The study showed that the children increased in social interaction
with those around them, motor skills and adaptive and executive functioning (Germone, et al.,
2019, pp. 1740-1751). Horses have a positive impact on the social skills and motor functioning
mentioned throughout. An article done by the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. There were a total of seventy-five children between
the ages of four and seventeen, group one had forty-eight participants who completed both the
experimental and control conditions. Group two with twenty-two participants on the other hand
completed the experimental conditions only and lastly group three with eight children received
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the control condition only. They were exposed to two-ten-minute conditions: one with an
experimental dog and its adult handler. The other 10-minute control condition with just hospital
supplied toys. This was done to examine if those in these experimental conditions demonstrated
more positive social-communication behaviors when engaged with Animal Assisted Activities
then those with hospital provided toys. The study demonstrated that Animal Assisted Activities
improved the social and communication behaviors in Autism Spectrum Disorder pediatric
patients. They used more verbal and nonverbal gestures. Such as positive facial expressions
(Borgi, et al., 2015). The outcome of this study shows how pet therapy specifically with dogs has
a positive impact on children with autism. These two studies demonstrate the importance of
incorporating animals in treatments of pediatric patients with autism. Bringing a new light to the
there is deterioration in cognitive function beyond what might be expected from normal aging. It
judgement. Alzheimer disease is the most common form of dementia. One aspect of treatment of
Pet therapy, or animal therapy, has been found beneficial. In a study by Wesenberg et al.
(2019), 19 patients with moderate to moderately severe dementia residing in a nursing home
were treated with animal- assisted intervention (AAI) and a control intervention. The study found
the positive effects on pleasure were significantly larger during AAI than during the control
intervention. Longer and more frequent periods of positive emotions and social interactions were
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found with the use of AAI, and the dog appeared to provide a highly compelling stimulus
Animal therapy may help reduce symptoms of dementia. Kårefjärd and Nordgren (2019)
found a decrease in sadness and discomfort, which can be recognized as signs of agitation, in
patients with dementia with the use of dog-assisted interventions (DAI): “If agitation is reduced,
the person with dementia will become more satisfied and relaxed. Often this means they are
calmer, more communicative, and more positive ” (p. 438). Similarly, a study by Olsen et. al’s
(2016), found improvement in symptoms of depression in patients with dementia using animal
assisted activity, compared to their control group, whose symptoms gradually worsened during
The use of animal, or dog, assisted interventions can have positive effects on quality of
life in people with dementia (Kårefjärd & Nordgren, 2019; Olsen et al., 2016). AAI improved the
psychological well-being of people with dementia to a larger degree than a control intervention
(Wesenberg et al., 2019). In a qualitative study focusing on Alzheimer’s disease patients and dog
therapy by Swall et. al (2017), behaviors such as empathy and affection were shown through
expressions of feelings of joy and tenderness. The moments people with dementia spent with a
therapy dog possibly gave them momentary empowerment despite the symptoms of the disease,
and may have given them a sense of being important, needed, and meaningful to the dog. These
studies demonstrate that pet therapy can be a beneficial complementary therapy to those with
According to Dr. Eric Altschuler (2018), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can
happen to an individual following war experiences, different types of trauma, and various forms
of abuse. Symptoms of PTSD can include feelings of isolation, nightmares, anxiety, and
depression. Altschuler has said that sometimes medications and counseling are sometimes not
enough to properly treat an individual’s PTSD, and that new therapy options are often needed.
As stated above, additional means of treating those impacted by PTSD have long been
sought. There is no universal cure-all for managing mental health, and PTSD certainly is no
exception to that rule. Pet therapy has recently been used as a means of treating the symptoms of
PTSD and to increase an individual’s overall wellbeing. A study from 2018 showed that an
individual with heavy alcoholism and severe PTSD symptoms greatly benefited from a service
dog (Altschuler, 2018). This individual felt significantly better within four months after receiving
his service dog and felt that he had better control of managing his symptoms (Altschuler, 2018).
Another individual with PTSD found relief after working with parrots who were abused
(Altschuler, 2018).
Another study focused on the impacts of dog training and ownership in veterans with
PTSD. In this study, forty-eight veterans participated in the Dogs2Vets program, which focuses
on providing service animals to veterans (Bergen-Cico et al., 2018). According to the study,
veterans that participated in a structured dog training program experienced substantially less
PTSD-related symptoms and felt less isolated than when they began the program (Bergen-Cico
et al., 2018). This study verified the findings of other trials involving veterans and pet therapy.
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As discussed, it is obvious of the benefits of pet therapy in regards to PTSD. Pet therapy
has been proven to reduce or resolve all together the symptoms of PTSD. Based on the studies
and examples listed, it is promising to use pet therapy as an alternative means of treating PTSD
Conclusion
When working as a nurse and assisting patients with mental health disorders, it is
important to remember the benefits of pet therapy. Studies have proven that pet therapy is
important because it benefits one’s mental, social, emotional, and physical functions. The
assistance of a pet greatly impacts one’s mood with the release of endorphins and serotonin. It is
noted that the presence of an animal can assist with feeling calm and relaxed. When a patient
feels happier and relaxed, this allows them to be able to improve their social functions. It is also
vital to realize that pets assist with physical functions such as getting up and moving. Lastly, pet
therapy could help manage symptoms of mental health disorders. All of the benefits pet therapy
offers directly relates to assisting in treatment for a range of mental health disorders. In the end,
nurses should remember the benefits of pet therapy and implement the treatment into a patient’s
care instructions.
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