Over the last couple of decades researchers have spent increasingly more time studying the therapeutic effects of animals on humans. A cursory search on google.com revealed there are more than 11,000 pages associated with the words “animal therapy and depression”. Whether this number represents legitimate research articles or personal blog babble, one thing is for sure; people are interested in the subject. Many pet owners would agree; having a pet around just makes you feel better. However, a company called Intelligent System Co. thinks maybe you don’t need an actual living, breathing animal; maybe a product that shares some characteristics with animals is just as good for you.

Enter Paro. According to the company’s website, Paro is what Intelligent Systems calls a “Mental Commitment Robot”. They describe the product, which looks like a white baby seal, as being able to interact with people and having the ability to make people “feel emotional attachment to the robots”. The company goes on to say that these robots were designed to have three different effects on humans; “psychological, such as relaxation and motivation, physiological, such as improvement in vital signs, and social effects such as instigating communication among inpatients and caregivers”

Does this product really improve symptoms associated with depression? The company has its own study posted online, but as with any company that conducts its own study, I’m a bit skeptical. That being said; I can see the value that’s created by a product like this one, should it prove effective. Obviously it would be useful in situations where the patient had a pet allergy or in apartments managed by pet-phobic landlords.

I don’t need any more research to tell me that my real, living, breathing pets are truly beneficial in many ways, but if a robot can help those people who don’t have time to commit to taking care of a pet, or don’t want to, I’m all for the robot.

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    Last reviewed: By John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on 31 Oct 2007
    Published on PsychCentral.com. All rights reserved.