Pets have been found to aid self management of mental illness to patients, study suggests
-Recent research, conducted by the University of Manchester (United Kingdom), investigated the role of pets in the lives of people suffering from mental illness.
-In the study, close to 54 participants (aged above 18 years and diagnosed with mental illness) were interviewed and asked for what comforted them the most and played a critical role in managing their illness.
-Of all the participants, about 60% of them considered their pets to be the most important comforters compared to the rest.
-It was seen that caring for a pet provided the patients a sense of security and brought order, continuity and routine in their life.
-Findings were published in BMC Psychiatry
Source: BMC Psychiatry