Abstract
The human-animal bond is crucial for the proper development of animal-assisted therapy (AAT) sessions. However, in specific cases such as in AAT focused on psychiatric patients who are admitted to acute units, there is only a short period of time available to establish this bond. To assess the degree of HAB generated after two AAT sessions in adolescents admitted to acute psychiatry units. A prospective multicenter cohort study aimed at adolescents aged 13 to 17 years admitted to the acute child and adolescent psychiatry unit of three hospitals. Two weekly 1 h group sessions of AAT with therapy dogs. The Center for the Study of Animal Wellness Pet Bonding Scale Survey (CSAWPB). One hundred and fourteen adolescents participated. A positive perception of the dog was generated, achieving a good level of bonding and attachment. The results obtained make it possible to affirm that a short period of time is enough to establish a good HAB between patients and therapy dogs. This study aims to contribute to the study of non-pharmacological interventions as a complement to pharmacological treatments in adolescents with mental health disorders.
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