A new randomized clinical trial has found that therapy dog visits lead to greater immediate reductions in loneliness among adults hospitalized for acute mental illness than standard care or visits from another person.

The study, funded by the Human Animal Bond Research Institute and Pet Partners, was published in Frontiers in Psychiatry.

Led by Dr. Nancy Gee, the trial involved 60 patients who took part in daily 20-minute sessions over three days. Participants received either standard treatment, a therapy dog visit with a handler, or a visit with the handler alone. Loneliness decreased significantly more in the therapy dog group, according to the research team.

Dog-owning patients in the therapy dog group also experienced longer-lasting reductions in loneliness, while participants in the other groups saw only short-term changes.

Pet Partners president and CEO C. Annie Peters said the results support therapy dogs as an additional option for hospitalized patients. HABRI president Steven Feldman said the findings show meaningful benefits for a vulnerable population.

The full study is titled A pilot randomized controlled trial to examine the impact of a therapy dog intervention on loneliness in adult patients hospitalized in a psychiatric unit.