Stories about the benefits of the human-animal bond are becoming ever-present in popular media. As many as 70% of US households have companion animals, evidence of our strong emotional connection with them. What does science say about how animals can improve mental health? We present research on how animals may be safely involved in the treatment of mental disorders at the 2023 APA Annual Meeting in San Francisco.

Our session provides definitions of commonly used and misused terms, such as "emotional support animal" and highlights important legal and ethical considerations when deciding whether to recommend treatments or supports involving animals for patients.

We will discuss topics such as ADHD and Autism Spectrum Disorders, as well as depressive and anxiety disorders and psychotic illnesses. Providers who serve geriatric patients will find key information regarding the role of animals in treating dementia and in helping families navigate end-of-life care. Our session covers:

• the spectrum of animal assisted interventions in patient care
• scientific evidence for involving animals in the treatment of mental disorders
• patient populations most likely to benefit from animal-assisted interventions
• factors relevant to patient and animal welfare when implementing animal-assisted therapies in clinical care

We focus on best practices and considerations for animal welfare, important in itself and as a model for enhancing the provider-patient relationship. We provide specific recommendations for taking the next step to involve animals in your practice and point to risk assessment tools to help you assess potential safety concerns relevant to your patient population and treatment setting.

For a deeper dive into how the human-animal bond impacts mental health, look for our upcoming book, "The Role of Animals in the Treatment of Mental Disorders". The book presents scientific evidence for a range of patient populations and settings, such as:

• Dog training interventions for at-risk youth (Lahav et al., 2019)
• Animal-assisted therapies for childhood trauma (Hoagwood et al., 2017)
• Executive functioning in childhood (Gee et al., 2010) and social functioning in youth with ASD (O'Haire et al., 2017)
• Improving depressive symptoms in adult psychiatric inpatients and nursing home residents (Souter & Miller, 2007)
• Involving animals in adjunctive treatment for PTSD (O'Haire et al., 2018)
• Equine assisted therapy for people with psychotic illnesses (Jormfeldt & Carlsson, 2018)

We look forward to seeing you in San Francisco!