title: Effectiveness of Animal Assisted Therapy after brain injury: A bridge to improved outcomes in CRT.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) has been widely used as a complementary therapy in mental health treatment especially to remediate social skill deficits. The goal of AAT is to improve social, emotional, and cognitive functioning.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this article is to draw upon the literature on AAT and explore specific applications to cognitive rehabilitation therapy (CRT) and social skills training.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study provides a systematic review of most of the available literature on ATT and assesses that potential uses of ATT for brain injury rehabilitation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Although the efficacy of AAT is not currently well documented by rigorous research, (Kazin, 2010) anecdotal evidence suggests that brain injury survivors may benefit from the combination of AAT and cognitive rehabilitation techniques.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) survivors with cognitive impairments can benefit from AAT as part of a comprehensive and holistic rehabilitation treatment plan.
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stapleton
mesh_terms: D056447:Animal Assisted Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D000818:Animals; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D003071:Cognition; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D000066530:Neurological Rehabilitation / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Animal Assisted Therapy; cognitive rehabilitation acquired brain injury; service dog; therapy; therapy dog