| Abstract: | Animal-assisted interventions (AAIs) reflect an extraordinary opportunity to improve mental health given the special role that animals (pets) occupy in everyday life and general public receptivity to animals. To enhance the evidence-base for AAIs, four recommendations are discussed: (a) conduct more well-designed studies, including the use of a broader array of methodologies; (b) make explicit “small theories” about precisely why and how human-animal interaction changes health and well-being; (c) increase laboratory-based studies of processes likely to underlie therapeutic applications; and (d) develop a strategic plan to guide AAI research, a means of implementing that plan, and ways of monitoring progress to ensure implementation has had impact on AAI research. There is enormous potential for AAI to overcome many obstacles of more traditional physical and mental health services, but developing that potential depends on establishing a stronger evidence base. |
