title: Pet therapy program for antepartum high-risk pregnancies: a pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This pilot study evaluated the potential benefits of pet therapy on symptoms of anxiety and depression in antepartum hospitalized women with high-risk pregnancies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-two women in a hospital-based setting completed the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and the Beck Depression Inventory before and after the pet therapy visit. For both questionnaires, paired t-test was used and adjusted P-values were obtained using the Hochberg step-up Bonferroni method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean scores for depressive symptoms significantly improved from the pre-pet therapy (10.1 ± 6.3) compared with the post-pet therapy (6.3 ± 5.9) (P<0.0001). Likewise mean scores of the state anxiety significantly improved from the pre-pet therapy test (44.8 ± 11.7) compared with the post-pet therapy (34.5 ± 10.5) (P<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pet therapy significantly reduced anxiety and depression in antepartum hospitalized women with high-risk pregnancies.
authors: Department of Psychiatry, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA.
authors: C E
authors: CE
authors: Lynch
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA.
authors: E F
authors: EF
authors: Magann
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA.
authors: S N
authors: SN
authors: Barringer
authors: Department of Biostatistics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA.
authors: S T
authors: ST
authors: Ounpraseuth
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA.
authors: D G
authors: DG
authors: Eastham
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA.
authors: S D
authors: SD
authors: Lewis
authors: 1] Department of Psychiatry, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA [2] Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA [3] Department of Pediatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA.
authors: Z N
authors: ZN
authors: Stowe
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D056447:Animal Assisted Therapy; D001007:Anxiety / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003863:Depression / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011247:Pregnancy; D018566:Pregnancy, High-Risk / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult