Also known as: animal-assisted therapy, pet therapy, companion animals
Latest evidence update: 2026-12-28
Interacting with pets increases oxytocin, decreases cortisol, and lowers blood pressure. Dog owners have significantly lower cardiovascular mortality. The human-animal bond activates the same neural pathways as human social bonding.
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Animal-assisted therapy showed no significant difference in anxiety outcomes in hospitalized children and teenagers compared to control conditions.
Animal-assisted therapy demonstrates effects across physiological, psychosocial, cognitive, and behavioral domains in older adults.
Animal-assisted therapy shows no significant effect on positive symptoms in patients with psychotic disorders.
Animal-assisted therapy may slightly reduce depressive symptoms in people with dementia compared to no therapy.
Animal-assisted therapy shows generally positive results in the management of children with autism spectrum disorder, although the diversity of outcome measurement scales limits the ability to establish true effectiveness.