The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of animal-assisted activity on social aspects among inpatients with schizophrenia. Four participants including 2 males and 2 females were assigned to the animal-assisted activity program treatment group with therapy dog. A weekly animal-assisted activity program was arranged for patients in the treatment group for 10 weeks. The analysis assessing social skills was completed the week before and the week after the animal-assisted activity. The treatment group showed improvement on the social skills. The results of this study showed that animal-assisted activity can promote improvements in many clinical aspects among inpatients with schizophrenia. Therefore, animal-assisted activity should be integrated into the treatment of institutionalized patients with schizophrenia.

• 강원국(원광대학교 보건보완의학 대학원 동물매개심리치료 전공) | Won-Guk Kang
• 도종구(원광대학교 동물매개치료학과) | Jong-gu Do
• 함지승(원광대학교 동물매개치료학과) | Ji-seung Ham
• 김문환(원광대학교 동물매개치료학과) | Mun-hwan Kim
• 박대근(원광대학교 동물매개치료학과) | Dae-geun Park
• 이지용(원광대학교 동물매개치료학과) | Ji-yong Lee
• 김현주(서정대학교 애완동물학과) | Hyun-Ju Kim
• 김옥진(원광대학교 보건보완의학 대학원 동물매개심리치료 전공,원광대학교 동물자원개발센터) | Okjin Kim Corresponding author