Therapies: A Dose of Dolphins for Moderate Depression New York Times

Researchers working in Honduras have taken an unusual approach to treating mild to moderate depression: they teamed their patients up with dolphins.

To test unconfirmed reports that dolphins could help people with learning disabilities and mental health problems, the researchers offered 10 patients a regimen of surf, sun, sand and dolphins, said Dr. Michael A. Reveley, a professor of psychiatry at the University of Leicester in England and the senior author of the study.
Skip to next paragraph
Related More Vital Signs Columns

To try to draw a valid comparison, another group got the same regimen, minus the dolphins.

The study found that the patients who took part in the program that let them spend time with bottlenose dolphins for two weeks enjoyed relief from their symptoms.

Patients in the control group, who spent quality time in the sun and the water, without the dolphins, did not experience the same benefit, the researchers found.

Dr. John Grohol is the CEO and founder of Psych Central. He is an author, researcher and expert in mental health online, and has been writing about online behavior, mental health and psychology issues -- as well as the intersection of technology and human behavior -- since 1992. Dr. Grohol sits on the editorial board of the journal Cyberpsychology, Behavior and Social Networking and is a founding board member and treasurer of the Society for Participatory Medicine.

Like this author?
Catch up on other posts by John M. Grohol, PsyD (or subscribe to their feed).

Comments

This post currently has no comments. You can read the comments or leave your own thoughts on our new comments page.

Trackbacks

    Last reviewed: By John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on 7 Dec 2005
    Published on PsychCentral.com. All rights reserved.