Animal Assisted Therapy

Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) is an alternative treatment method based on human animal interaction used in addition to basic medical treatment with the purpose of improving and enhancing life quality in individuals who are negatively affected from psychological disorders or who have chronic diseases. Positive effects were observed from Animal Assisted Therapy which is on the agenda and increasingly developing in the recent years. It is known that Animal Assisted Therapy is used as therapy for several diseases and disorders such as diffused developmental disorders, cancer, Alzheimer, dementia, feeling of loneliness, anxiety, depression. In the researches realized abroad, along with a specialist and strong team, AAT carried out in accordance with the procedure has produced positive results. The number of studies realized in our country is limited however it is constantly developing. In this compilation which aims to realize a multidirectional research on animal assisted therapy, the definition of Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT), its history, its area of use, types of animal used have been mentioned and its applications during different phases of life such as childhood and old age were touched upon. In conclusion, it is considered that the use in our country of Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) as a treatment which produces positive results in several diseases and psychological disorders, in addition to trying various animal species would be beneficial in other psychological disorders and diseases