Fw: Interacting and petting animals creates a hormonal response in humans that can help fight depression

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" BEKOFF MARC " <Marc.Bekoff

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Monday, May 17, 2004 5:05 AM

Interacting and petting animals creates a hormonal response in

humans that can help fight depression

 

 

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> Interacting and petting animals creates a hormonal response in humans

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> The next time a dog comes bounding up to you for a wet, sloppy kiss and

> a good belly rub, don't back away. In an ongoing study, a

> <http://www.missouri.edu/> University of Missouri-Columbia researcher

> has found that interacting and petting animals creates a hormonal

> response in humans that can help fight depression.

>

>

> " Our preliminary results indicate that levels of serotonin, a hormone in

> humans that helps fight depression, rise dramatically after interaction

> with live animals, specifically dogs, " said Rebecca Johnson, MU

> professor of nursing and veterinary medicine, who presented these

> initial findings at the Companion Animals: Fountains of Health

> conference at Barcelona Autonomous University last month. " This hormone

> is critical in the psychological well-being of an individual. In

> addition, we have discovered that there is no substitute for the real

> thing. "

>

> In her study, Johnson, along with Richard Meadows, clinical associate

> professor of veterinary medicine, is asking dog owners and non-pet

> owners to play with a live animal or a robot dog for a few minutes at a

> time. Johnson draws blood from the human and the dog prior to and after

> the interaction and then compares the blood for hormone levels. People

> taking part in the study ranged in age from 19 to 73. Preliminary

> results indicate a significant increase in the levels of serotonin

> following interaction with the live dog, Johnson said.

>

> " In addition to serotonin, we also are seeing increases in the amounts

> of prolactin and oxytocin, more of those 'feel good' hormones, " Johnson

> said. " Our research also is trying to determine what types of people

> would best benefit from being with animals. By showing this benefit, we

> can help pet-assisted therapy become a medically accepted intervention

> that might be prescribed to patients. "

>

> " One previous study done in South Africa by Dr. Johannes Odendaal looked

> at less parameters than the current study and it also found that the

> interactions were beneficial for both the people and the dogs, " Meadows

> said. " We expect to see the same benefit to the canines in our

> study-good for the dogs and the people-a true 'win-win' situation. "

>

> The study also indicates that interacting with the robot dog actually

> decreases levels of serotonin in humans. These preliminary findings

> could be helpful to psychologists or psychiatrists who want to

> complement their treatment to a patient suffering from depression,

> Johnson said. The researchers expect to have final results of the study

> in the fall.

>

> " We also need to study how the animals react to this attention, " Johnson

> said. " It's important to know when we take dogs to nursing homes or

> hospitals for therapy if they are feeling any kind of stress. We need to

> find the right balance where both animals and humans can benefit from

> interacting with each other. "

>