Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) - a review of current scientific research
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.12775/QS.2026.51.68630Keywords
animal therapy, animal-assisted therapy, anxiety, depression, quality of life, psychiatric disordersAbstract
Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) is an adjunctive therapeutic method that uses purposeful human-animal interaction in the treatment process. Systematic literature reviews and randomized controlled trials from the last few years (2015-2025) demonstrate that AAT has significant effects in reducing anxiety, depression, pain, and improving the quality of life of patients with various diseases. This paper analyzes the biological mechanisms of animal-assisted therapy (AAT), its clinical applications, and research limitations, pointing to the need for standardized research methods and greater interest in this form of intervention in healthcare systems.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Maciej Bieniek, Kinga Woźniak, Weronika Szkudlarek, Aleksandra Fałczyńska, Sandra Dachowska, Jan Haraj, Marcin Sobkowiak, Maria Namysł, Simon Matczak
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