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Animals That Help People With Depression

Animal-assisted therapies offer patients with psychological disorders, such as depression, the opportunity to benefit from the healing power of the human-animal bond, reports the American Humane Society. Dogs and cats are more often used in such therapies, because they share with us similar prenatal development, offspring nursing and nervous systems and are easier to train than other animals. There is evidence that other mammals, such as dolphins, can also help humans with depression.

  1. Cats

    • Researchers from the Department of Medical and Surgical Disciplines at the University of Torino, Italy, found out that regular contact with a little cat improved depressive symptoms and lowered blood pressure values in 28 elderly people living in a nursing home. According to Pub Med, the test consisted of three sessions of roughly one hour three times a week, during six weeks.

    Dogs

    • Dogs can be trained to perform several helping tasks to assist disabled and depressed people. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) protects patients with panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder and depression. According to the International Association of Assistance Dog Partners, these patients are allowed to be accompanied by a service dog, which can perform tasks such as calling 911 or a suicide hot line. Trained service dogs can better tolerate hugs and snuggles, helping to reduce suicidal and negative thoughts in depression patients.

    Dolphins

    • Dr. Iain Ryrie, director at the charity Mental Health Foundation, says that humans and dolphins share similar brain systems, especially regarding emotions. The University of Leicester compared the effects of regular swimming sessions and swimming sessions that included dolphins in two groups of depression patients. According to the BBC News website, the symptoms improved more among the group that interacted with dolphins. However, the researchers said that they would focus their efforts on interactions with animals that are more available to everybody.

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