Animal-assisted therapy (AAT), most frequently used with dogs, is being used increasingly as an adjunctive alternative treatment for psychiatric patients. AAT with larger animals, such as horses, may have unique benefits. In this randomized controlled study, equine and canine forms of AAT were compared with standard treatments for hospitalized psychiatric patients to determine AAT effects on violent behavior and related measures.
Jeffry R. Nurenberg, M.D. Steven J. Schleifer, M.D. Thomas M. Shaffer, B.A. Mary Yellin, B.S., O.T.R. Prital J. Desai, M.D., M.P.H. Ruchi Amin, M.D. Axel Bouchard, M.A. Cristina Montalvo, M.D., M.B.S.
Published online: January 02, 2015
Read full article: https://ps.psychiatryonline.org/doi/full/10.1176/appi.ps.201300524