Dolphin-assisted therapy (DAT) is drawing attention as an addition to traditional depression treatments. To learn more about its potential, researchers from the Lithuanian Sea Museum Center of Dolphin Assisted Therapy and Klaipėda University turned to adults diagnosed with organic depression. But what really makes their study special is the additional focus on the welfare of the dolphins involved – a perspective that is often overlooked.

The study involved 14 adult patients, who took part in daily 30-minute DAT sessions over two weeks, combined with light physical exercises. Researchers used tools like the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), the SF-36 health questionnaire, and the Chandler Psychosocial Session Form to assess changes in their mental, physical, and social health.

The results linked DAT to:

  • Significant reduction in anxiety and depression symptoms.
  • Improved physical activity, reduced pain, and better overall well-being.
  • Enhanced social behaviors such as empathy and confidence.

The study also monitored nine bottlenose dolphins to observe their behavior and well-being during therapy. These dolphins participated in a limited number of sessions with scheduled breaks and were not involved in other performances. Video analysis of 33 sessions showed overwhelmingly positive or mostly positive dolphin behavior, suggesting that, with ethical management, the therapy does not harm the animals.

Researchers concluded that DAT can benefit adults with depression while, with proper regulation, being conducted in a way that respects the animals’ well-being. However, researchers also called for further, long-term studies to assess the benefits of DAT for both patients and dolphins over time.

References:

Kreivinienė B, Šaltytė-Vaisiauskė L and Mačiulskytė S (2025) Therapeutic effect of proprioceptive dolphin assisted activities on health-related quality of life and muscle tension, biomechanical and viscoelastic properties in major depressive disorder adults: case analysis. Front. Hum. Neurosci. 18:1487293. doi: 10.3389/fnhum.2024.1487293