A daycare program of animal assisted therapy for affective disorder patients during psychotropic drug therapy: evaluation of the relaxation effect by fNIRS (functional near-infrared spectroscopy)
Iwahashi, K.; Fukamauchi, F.; Aoki, J.; Kurihara, K.; Yoshihara, E.; Inoue, M.; Shibanai, H.; Ishigooka, J.
Nihon Shinkei Seishin Yakurigaku Zasshi 30(3): 129-134
2010
ISSN/ISBN: 1340-2544 PMID: 20666144 Document Number: 645554
During daycare programs of animal assisted therapy (AAT), we collected data on the brain function of two affective disorder patients who received psychotropic drug therapy with fNIRS, after written informed consent was obtained. A male patient at first showed a bloodstream drop, seen in the lower inside part of frontal lobe. In both patients, at least a slight activation of the function of the frontal lobe was seen during the therapy. Therefore, an activation effect of AAT was seen at least objectively by fNIRS.