Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 23, 2026
Automated, Long-term Behavioral Assay for Cognitive Functions in Multiple Genetic Models of Alzheimer's Disease, Using IntelliCage
Published on: August 4, 2018
Animal-assisted therapy for middle-aged schizophrenic patients living in a social institution. A pilot study
Zoltán Kovács1, Renáta Kis, Sándor Rózsa
1Semmelweis University of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Balassa u.6., 1083 Budapest, Hungary. kovzoli@psych.sote.hu
Objectives:
To determine whether animal-assisted therapy is effective in the rehabilitation of middle-aged schizophrenic patients living in a social institution.
Design:
A before and after study with nine-month treatment period.
Setting:
Social institute for psychiatric patients.
Subjects:
Seven schizophrenic patients living in the social institute.
Interventions:
Weekly sessions of animal-assisted therapy for a nine-month period, each therapeutic session lasting for 50 minutes. MEASURES USED: The Independent Living Skills Survey assessed by an independent rater.
Results:
After the completion of the therapy significant improvement in the domestic and health activities occurred.
Conclusions:
Animal-assisted therapy seems to be helpful in the rehabilitation of schizophrenic patients living in a social institution.
