|  | Conditions Treatments | Depression

Animal Companions & Depression

Animal companionship, in the form of short-term animal-assisted therapy or long-term pet ownership, may have benefits for some people suffering from a depressive disorder. Animal companions may also ease anxiety in some cases. The activities involved in caring for and spending time with an animal may have antidepressant affects for people who like animals.

  1. Depression

    • Depression is a serious mental disorder that may also be referred to as clinical depression, major depression or major depressive illness. Symptoms of depression tend to be severe and may include prolonged periods of sadness and/or hopelessness, sleep disturbances, appetite changes, loss of interest in pleasurable activities, difficulty focusing and thoughts of death and suicide. Symptoms of depression are generally managed with antidepressant medications and psychotherapy.

    Age

    • Animal companionship may be particularly beneficial for older people suffering from depression. According to MayoClinic.com, older adults with depression may become bored and isolated, feel worthless and unwilling to engage in new experiences. According to the American Federation for Aging Research (AFAR), people over the age of 65 who are pet owners are more physically active than those of the same age group without pets.

    Benefits

    • According to AFAR, pet ownership may give a people suffering from depression something to focus on and attend to other than their depressed feelings. In addition, according to MentalHelp.net, walking a dog is a daily activity that may counter isolation and provide exercise and opportunities to socialize with others, actions that may ease depression. According to AnimalTherapy.net, animal companionship combats loneliness, and caring for an animal may give those with depression a valuable sense of purpose and structure.

    Animal-Assisted Therapy

    • Animal-assisted therapy refers to the structured, therapeutic interaction between people and animals. According to research published in the journal Psychiatric Services in 1998, patients with chronic mental disorders in residential care facilities exhibited lowered rates of depression after being visited by puppies. According to a study published in The Journal of ECT in 2003, animal-assisted therapy may help reduce anxiety and depression among patients scheduled for "fear-inducing" medical procedures.

    Considerations

    • According to MentalHelp.net, animal companionship does not have inherent antidepressant properties, and is likely to be beneficial only for people who like animals in the first place. Those considering obtaining a pet for companionship should consider what types of animal they like and what types of breed might be most companionable. Some breeds of cat or dog, for example, are likely to be more friendly than others. Pet ownership involves commitment and expense in terms of feeding, grooming and veterinary care.

Depression - Related Articles