Research in Human-Animal Interaction
Pereira, M. J. F.; Pereira, L.; Ferreira, M. L.;
Saude Coletiva. Ferreira & Bento do Brasil Ltda, 2007. 4: 14, 62-66.
Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) has been used as one more instrument in the promotion of health and treatment of some diseases. This bibliographic review highlights the benefits derived from AAT. Although the use of animals in therapy has been mentioned since the 19th century, only in 1962 was a documentation on the benefits of AAT in psychology performed. It was noted that AAT was first applied in patients with cardiovascular diseases, in operating rooms prior to the actual surgical operation, in intensive care units, in paediatric centres, and in psychiatric patients with dementia and Alzheimer's disease.