Pet therapy program for antepartum high-risk pregnancies: a pilot study

Objective:this pilot study evaluated the potential benefits of pet therapy on symptoms of anxiety and depression in antepartum hospitalized women with high-risk pregnancies.study design:eighty-two women in a hospital-based setting completed the state-trait anxiety inventory and the beck depression inventory before and after the pet therapy visit. for both questionnaires, paired t-test was used and adjusted p-values were obtained using the hochberg step-up bonferroni method.result:the mean scores for depressive symptoms significantly improved from the pre-pet therapy (10.1±6.3) compared with the post-pet therapy (6.3±5.9) (p<0.0001). likewise mean scores of the state anxiety significantly improved from the pre-pet therapy test (44.8±11.7) compared with the post-pet therapy (34.5±10.5) (p<0.001).conclusion:pet therapy significantly reduced anxiety and depression in antepartum hospitalized women with high-risk pregnancies.