Animal‐Assisted Therapy With Hospitalized Adolescents

Abstract

To ascertain the effects of animal-assisted therapy on hospitalized adolescents.Thirty adolescents hospitalized in a 16-bed psychiatric unit. Data collection included patient journals, interviews with 15 patients, and anecdotal notes from observations and staff reports. The ethnographic method was used for data analysis.Categories identified from the data include the dog as a component of the milieu, as friend, and as therapist. The dog served as a catalyst for interactions, and often had human qualities ascribed to him by the adolescents.This study provides new information that can enhance patient care.