Swimming with Dolphins Can Alleviate Depression

	Tweet

Swimming with dolphins is an effective treatment for mild to moderate depression, say researchers in this week’s BMJ.

Their findings support the theory of biophilia, which shows how human health and wellbeing are dependent on our relationships with the natural environment.

The study was carried out in Honduras and involved 30 patients diagnosed with mild or moderate depression. Half were assigned to the experimental group and half to the control group.

Over a two-week period, participants in the experimental group swam and snorkelled in the water with dolphins for one hour a day. Participants in the control group were assigned to the same water activities, but in the absence of dolphins, to control for the influence of water and the natural setting.

All participants discontinued antidepressant drugs or psychotherapy at least four weeks before entering the study, and were not allowed to take drugs during the study. Depression scores were measured before the study and at the end of treatment.

Although some participants dropped out of the study, the average severity of the depressive symptoms was more reduced in the experimental group than in the control group.

Animal facilitated therapy with dolphins is more effective than water therapy in treating people with mild to moderate depression, say the authors. Despite some study limitations, the effects exerted by the animals were significantly greater than those of just the natural setting.

The echolocation system, the aesthetic value, and the emotions raised by the interaction with dolphins may explain the mammals’ healing properties, they suggest.

Three months after the study, participants in both groups also reported lasting improvement and did not require treatment. This suggests that in patients with mild or moderate depression, using drugs or conventional psychotherapy may not be necessary when biophilic treatment with animals is used, they conclude.

RELATED STORIES:
Fatty acid tied to depression and inflammation   Gene variation makes alcoholism less likely in some survivors of sexual abuse   Alcohol-Branded Items Linked to Early Teen Drinking   First-Year Treatment Success Lowers 15-Year Death Risk for Alcoholics   Kids of Depressed Moms Do Better When Dad Is Involved   Physical, emotional stress trigger heart attack   Task Force Recommends Screening Adolescents for Clinical Depression   Sinai Physiatrist Enthusiatic About Word Addition   US House sets funds for veterans’ mental health   Antidepressants may not work for mild depression   Poor mental health harming productivity, says OECD   Music can alleviate chronic pain and depression   Nearly 1 in 5 university students experienced violence in last 6 months: UBC study   Antidepressants may not improve all symptoms of depression, UT Southwestern researchers find   Work/family conflicts more likely in mentally ill

Comments

[ + Post Your Own ]

Now you're in the public comment zone. What follows is not Armenian Medical Network's stuff; it comes from other people and we don't vouch for it. A reminder: By using this Web site you agree to accept our Terms of Service. Click here to read the Rules of Engagement.

There are no comments for this entry yet. [ + Comment here + ]