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<p>Animal-Assisted Therapy and PTSD<br>By Ines Pandzic, M.A.<br>Naval Center for Combat &amp; Operational Stress Control<br><br>What is Animal-Assisted Therapy?<br>The bonds between humans and animals have been documented across cultures for thousands of years. In modern times, animals have become valued as service animals, which are trained to live and work with an individual with a specific disability. The first documented use of pets for therapeutic reasons was at the Quaker Retreat in York, England, in 1792. In 1969, Levinson noted the benefits of human-animal interaction during psychotherapy. Currently, research is beginning to examine the effects of animals on human stress and anxiety, and interest in animal-assisted therapies is gaining popularity, evidenced by numerous new programs for wounded warriors, such as canine and equine therapies.<br>Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) is defined by Barker and Dawson as the use of trained animals in facilitating patients’ progress toward therapeutic goals. It has been suggested that the beneficial outcomes of AAT could be a direct effect of the animal-human bond in which there is a friendly and affectionate companionship between human and animal that is less complicated than companionship between two humans.<br><br>AAT is delivered by a healthcare professional who has the skills and expertise necessary for the application of human animal interactions and is working within the scope of the profession, while the animal might act as a companion or a social facilitator. It is important to note that there is a difference between therapy and service animals. A service animal is defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) as any dog trained to perform tasks for a person with a disability, and the law requires all businesses serving the public to allow entrance to disabled persons and their service animals. Therapy animals, conversely, are typically personal pets of the handlers and accompany them in a variety of settings and in some cases animals may reside in a facility away from the handler’s home. ADA only applies to persons with disabilities and not handlers of therapy animals. In terms of certification and registration for a service animal, it is not required that the animal be trained by a professional and although not standardized, there are numerous service animal registries and organizations that offer guidelines. Similarly, animal-assisted therapy programs are endorsed by healthcare providers in various settings and there is no one standard certification program. Instead, certification programs are offered through different organizations and universities.<br></p>
<br>Subjects: Stress Disorders Post-Traumatic; NMC San Diego;</div>
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U.S. Naval Center for Combat and Operational Stress Control (NCCOSC)</div>
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