The Role of Companion Animals in the Treatment of Mental Disorders

Nancy Gee, Lisa Townsend, Robert Findling
American Psychiatric Association Publishing
325 pages
ISBN: 9781615374557
March 2023

Unique both for its subject matter and for the depth of the information it provides, this book examines the existing evidence to support animal-based interventions for mental disorders as well as the risks associated with various types of programs. Readers will come away with an understanding of the role that animals can play in mitigating psychiatric symptoms, engaging patients in treatment, and enhancing well-being—as well as key principles and considerations for determining whether an animal-based intervention is appropriate for a given patient.