Research: Dolphin Assisted Therapy: Can Swimming with Dolphins Be a Suitable Treatment?

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Authored by Williamson, C. in Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology, Volume 50, Issue 6, p. 477, (2008).

Article summary (posted Jul 14, 2008):

Dolphin Assisted Therapy (DAT) may not be effective, and has risks for both people and dolphins.

The Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society urges caution for the sake of people and animals when thinking about dolphin therapy. There is no proof that dolphin assisted therapy works. Also, there are risks in putting weak people who are in need of therapy in the water with dolphins, which are large, strong animals. Dolphins are wild animals, even when highly trained, and can be hard to predict. Right now there are no rules for dolphin therapists and this can also increase the risk of dolphin therapy.

Links:

You can access the original abstract and the complete paper is sometimes available for free via Google Scholar (look for entries that say "PDF" or "HTML" on the right side of the page).
animal-assisted therapy (AAT), autism, dolphin-assisted therapy (DAT), swim therapy, therapist, therapy, treatment
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