Use of animal-assisted therapy in the rehabilitation of an assault victim with a concurrent mood disorder.
Multidisciplinary mental health rehabilitation settings often encounter patients with complex comorbid medical and psychiatric issues that require integrative, multifaceted treatment strategies. Although medication and psychotherapy are typical treatment mainstays, a broader variety of therapeutic options are available, including animal-assisted therapy. Here we describe a patient who received animal-assisted therapy as a psychiatric rehabilitation tool to ameliorate his atypical depression following an assault and subsequent head injury. A review of the relevant literature highlights the therapeutic potential of animal-assisted therapy to restore and maintain patient independence and level of functioning, both of which are key treatment goals.
Sockalingam
Sanjeev
S
Medical Psychiatry Service, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Li
Madeline
M
Krishnadev
Upasana
U
Hanson
Keith
K
Balaban
Kayli
K
Pacione
Laura R
LR
Bhalerao
Shree
S
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000829:Animals, Domestic / Q000523:psychology*; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000150:complications*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000150:complications*; D004285:Dogs / Q000523:psychology*; D001841:Human-Animal Bond; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024802:Nurse's Role; D011568:Psychiatric Nursing; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014754:Violence / Q000523:psychology*
D000928:Antidepressive Agents