JOURNAL ARTICLE

Data on Psychology and Psychiatry Discussed by Researchers at Virginia Commonwealth University (A pilot randomized controlled trial to examine the impact of a therapy dog intervention on loneliness in adult patients hospitalized in a...).

Published In: Psychology & Psychiatry Journal, 2026. P. 80 1 of 2
Database: Psychology Source 2 of 2

Abstract

The article focuses on research conducted at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia, examining the impact of Animal-Assisted Intervention (AAI) on loneliness among individuals hospitalized for mental illness. The study involved 60 participants who were assigned to one of three groups: AAI, a handler-only conversational control, or usual care. Results indicated that loneliness significantly decreased in the AAI group compared to the other groups, particularly among dog owners, suggesting that AAI could serve as an effective adjunctive treatment for loneliness in psychiatric settings. The research was supported by the Human Animal Bond Research Institute and is documented under clinicaltrials.gov identifier NCT05089201. [Extracted from the article]

Additional Information

Source:Psychology & Psychiatry Journal. 2026/01, p80
Document Type:Article
Subject Area:Health and Medicine
Publication Date:2026
ISSN:1944-2718
Accession Number:190619241
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