Animal-assisted therapy for middle-aged schizophrenic patients living in a social institution. A pilot study.

OBJECTIVES To determine whether animal-assisted therapy is effective in the rehabilitation of middle-aged schizophrenic patients living in a social institution. DESIGN A before and after study with nine-month treatment period. SETTING Social institute for psychiatric patients. SUBJECTS Seven schizophrenic patients living in the social institute. INTERVENTIONS Weekly sessions of animal-assisted therapy for a nine-month period, each therapeutic session lasting for 50 minutes. MEASURES USED: The Independent Living Skills Survey assessed by an independent rater. RESULTS After the completion of the therapy significant improvement in the domestic and health activities occurred. CONCLUSIONS Animal-assisted therapy seems to be helpful in the rehabilitation of schizophrenic patients living in a social institution.