Plants Psychiatry Department of Bellvitge HospitalIn L'Hospitalet de Llobregat (Barcelona), they have had some unusual visitors for the past few months: specially trained dogs that participate in sessions of assisted therapy with inpatients. This proposal has been incorporated as a complementary resource within the standard treatment offered by the center, with the aim of improving the experience and well-being of people with mental disorders.
Far from being a passing fad, this program is based on scientific evidence and in collaboration with specialized entities. Bellvitge Hospital (HUB) works hand in hand with the Center for Dog-Assisted Therapies (CTAC) and has the support of Nestlé Purina Spain to carry out weekly interventions, always under the supervision of the hospital's healthcare staff.
How does dog-assisted therapy work in Bellvitge?
The program is developed through weekly sessions aimed at patients admitted to the Psychiatry units of the HUB. These interventions are structured as follows: two main formatsGroup activities lasting about 60 minutes and individual sessions of around 20 minutes, adapted to the needs and clinical condition of each person.
Participants in all sessions healthcare professionals from the hospital itself together with specialists from CTAC, who are responsible for guiding the work with the dogs and adjusting the exercises. In this way, assisted therapy is integrated into the comprehensive therapeutic plan, without replacing regular medical or psychological treatments at any time, but acting as additional support.
The role of animals in this context focuses on facilitating the interaction, motivation, and active participation of the patients. Through play, physical contact, care or small guided tasks, mood, communication and certain self-care habits are indirectly addressed, which can then be transferred to daily life.
The hospital emphasizes the character participatory These sessions often encourage even the most withdrawn or highly anxious patients to participate. The fact that the initial focus is on the dog, rather than the patient, helps to reduce tension and create a more intimate and less clinical environment.
Who are Mushu and Keisy, the canine protagonists?
In this first phase of the project, the main protagonists are Mushu y KeisyMushu is a two dogs with a calm and very sociable temperament. 6-year-old Samoyed, while Keisy is a 3-year-old Cavalier King Charles SpanielBoth are part of the group of 12 dogs that the CTAC regularly works with in different healthcare centers; the selection is based on character criteria and studies on Dog breeds that help overcome depression.
As they explain Montse GodoyCTAC specialist technician who leads the sessions, and Francesc RistolAccording to the center's director, adding a dog to the program is not something improvised. First, a exhaustive selection Based on their character: animals are sought that tolerate physical contact, enclosed spaces and the presence of people with different emotional states, without showing signs of discomfort or stress.
Only the dogs that pass this first filter move on to a specific training phaseThis stage is designed to prepare them for the hospital environment. It focuses on responding to unexpected noises, remaining calm in stressful situations, and following the guide's instructions, among other aspects.
Ristol emphasizes that the goal of the CTAC is not to "come and provide treatment" on its own, but to contribute a complementary resource to the approach already being taken by the hospital's mental health teams. Therefore, he emphasizes that it is "essential that the dogs accept situations with potentially stressful environments without being negatively affected," something that can only be achieved through a combination of careful selection and meticulous training.
A change of focus in mental health care
The Head of Nursing for the Neuroscience Area at the HUB, Lia Tamar SánchezThis places this initiative within a paradigm shift in mental health care. Dog-assisted therapy is conceived as a complementary and structured therapeutic interventiondesigned to fit into existing treatment pathways and to make the hospitalization process more humane.
According to details provided, this type of intervention aims to promote the emotional, psychological and social well-being for patients, while also helping to "optimize the patient experience during the therapeutic process." In other words, the aim is to make the hospital stay less hostile and more bearable, something especially relevant in units where admission may be prolonged.
For the nurses and the rest of the care team, the presence of the dogs opens an additional avenue for addressing anxiety, stress, and emotional distressIt also allows for very direct work on socialization and reduction of isolation which accompanies many pathologies such as depression, schizophrenia, or severe anxiety disorders.
In addition to their impact on mood, the sessions serve to strengthen the link between patients and professionalsSharing a more relaxed interaction space, with the dog as a meeting point, facilitates the generation of trust and makes patients more receptive to therapeutic indications.
Observed benefits and scientific support
Research published in recent years on animal assisted therapies They point to a number of significant benefits in the field of mental health, both in Spain and in other European countries. Among the most notable effects is the improvement of behavioral activationThis is key in patients with marked depression or apathy, who tend to minimize their daily activities.
An increase in socialization and interpersonal relationshipsThe dog's presence often acts as a "bridge" to initiate conversations and share experiences, even among people who barely knew each other within the unit. This helps to reduce the feeling of isolation. unwanted loneliness, very common in those who are going through a mental health problem.
Another aspect highlighted by these studies is the reduction of emotional distress and of certain disruptive behaviorsThis has repercussions both for the patient's well-being and the overall atmosphere of the unit. In the medium term, these types of interventions have been associated with a better adherence to therapeutic programs, since the patient tends to become more involved when he perceives that the environment is welcoming and that he has resources that help him feel better.
In the specific case of Bellvitge Hospital, the nursing staff emphasize that the sessions with dogs They increase motivation Many patients are encouraged to participate in self-care activities, from personal hygiene to attending workshops or group therapy sessions. Simply having something to look forward to each week can be a significant motivator during times of low energy or hopelessness.
These types of programs, which have already been implemented in other centers in Spain and Europe, are becoming established as a useful complement within mental health facilities, provided they are applied with clear clinical criteria, safety protocols and respect for both patients and animals.
The implementation of dog-assisted therapy at Bellvitge Hospital ultimately reflects a commitment to humanizing psychiatric care Using evidence-based tools and collaboration between healthcare teams and specialized entities, the combination of structured sessions, carefully selected dogs, and the involvement of nursing staff is allowing us to offer patients a more supportive, less isolated hospital stay with more opportunities to regain their emotional stability.
