A new study demonstrates the effectiveness of animal treatment in psychological disorders

This project carried out by the Animal Assisted Intervention Office of the URJC y the Institute of Research in Primary Care, together with the collaboration of Purina, search assess the degree of human-animal bond generated in various TAA sessions

David Viera

This study It has been carried out in different hospitals (Hospital Universitario de Santa María de Lleida, Hospital de Mataró and the Hospital Infantil Universitario Niño Jesús de Madrid), with the participation of 114 adolescents between 13 and 17 years old, and 6 assisted therapy dogs. Thanks to the collaboration agreement between the URJC and the Niño de Jesús University Children's Hospital in Madrid, the center's facilities have been able to be used for this research.

The results of the study have shown that a short period of time is enough to establish a positive perception of the dog and a good bond between animals and patients, in addition to demonstrating that dogs are capable of perceiving when patients are unwell. Another notable point of the research is that one of the aspects most valued by adolescents is unconditional acceptance, ensuring that the animal accepts them as they are, providing confidence and security, in addition to feeling that they are helped by the dogs. The latest discovery that has been achieved from the study speaks of that the presence of the intervention dog favors a climate of security and trust, which helps to establish and consolidate the therapeutic relationship, demonstrating the effectiveness of non-pharmacological interventions as a complement to this type of treatments.

La URJC Animal Assisted Intervention Office has done the work of coordinator of the program with the entity 'Animal Nature', one of the associations that has provided intervention dogs for research. Israel González, coordinator of the department and in charge of holding meetings with hospitals and professionals, states that this study has been possible thanks to the COVID protocol that was implemented between the URJC and the Niño Jesús University Children's Hospital in Madrid.

The IAA Office coordinator himself has commented that he, as well as the professionals, users and office staff, are happy with the results, stating that they were what they expected. "The main objective of the URJC Animal Assisted Intervention Office is to regulate this type of intervention, whether in the socio-health field or in the educational aspect," concluded Israel González.