Chapter I
THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND
Introduction
Depression is an illness that involves the body, mood, and thoughts, that affects the way a person eats and sleeps, the way one feels about oneself, and the way one thinks about things. A depressive disorder is not the same as a passing blue mood. It is not a sign of personal weakness or a condition that can be wished away. People with a depressive disease cannot merely "pull themselves together" and get better. Without treatment, symptoms can last for weeks, months, or years. Appropriate treatment, however, can help most people with depression (Dryden-Edwards, et. al., 2010).
Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) is a relatively new field of study, although the human-animal bond has existed for thousands of years. AAT is a type of therapy that involves animals as a form of treatment. The goal of AAT is to improve a patient’s social, emotional, or cognitive functioning. Animals can also be useful for educational and motivational effectiveness for participants (American Humane Association, 2010).
Animals are tools for therapy because they can make people feel safe and loved when they have been deprived of social interaction or hurt by other people. They do not communicate with words, and so patients afraid of approaching people can comfortably approach an animal.
For the elderly, the companionship of owning a pet can be valuable, especially if they do not have any family or friends nearby to visit. The pet loves them i[n an unconditional way that supports their idea of identity; they can, in effect, make someone feel young and worthwhile again. They also provide an opportunity for fun and relaxation.
Animals or pets play lots of roles like comforting the elderly and working with Alzheimer’s patients, helping them to access emotions and memories.
In this study, the researchers used the tool created by Aaron T. Beck called Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Beck Depression Inventory, sometimes referred to as Beck Depression Scale, is a depression test to measure the severity and depth of depression symptoms. It can be used for both adults and adolescents 13 years of age and older. Beck Depression Test is a standard measure of depression used mainly in research and for the evaluation of effectiveness of depression therapies and treatments.
The BDI was originally developed to detect, assess, and monitor changes in depressive symptoms among people in a mental health care setting. It is also used to detect depressive symptoms in a primary care setting. The BDI usually takes between five and ten minutes to complete as part of a psychological or medical examination.
Background of the Study According to worldwide data gathered from World Health Organization (2000), depression is the leading cause of disability as measured by Years Lost due to Disabilities (YLD) and the 4th leading contributor to the global burden of disease.
In Depression Facts and Statistics (2009), suicide is more common among the elderly than in any other age group. In studies of older adults who committed suicide, nearly all had major depression, typically a first episode, though very few had a substance abuse disorder. By the year 2020, depression is projected to reach 2nd place of the ranking of Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) calculated for all ages, both sexes. Today, depression is already the 2nd cause of DALYs in the age category 15-44 years of age for both sexes combine (Depression Facts and Statistics (2009).
In this study, animal-assisted therapy was used as intervention to determine if the therapy is effective in decreasing the degree of depression of the Filipino geriatric clients.
Beck Depression Inventory was used to assess and detect if the geriatric clients have depression, and to evaluate the degree of depression of those geriatric clients before and after the implementation of animal-assisted therapy.
It is a 21-question multiple-choice self-report inventory, one of the most widely used instruments for measuring the severity of depression. Its development marked a shift among health care professionals, who had until then viewed depression from a psychodynamic perspective, instead of it being rooted in the patient's own thoughts.
In its current version the questionnaire is designed for individuals aged 13 and over, and is composed of items relating to symptoms of depression such as hopelessness and irritability, cognitions such as guilt or feelings of being punished, as well as physical symptoms such as fatigue, weight loss, and lack of interest in sex.
There are three versions of the BDI: the original BDI, first published in 1961 and later revised in 1978 as the BDI-1A, and the BDI-II, published in 1996. The BDI is widely used as an assessment tool by health care professionals and researchers in a variety of settings.

Statement of the Problem
The study aims to determine if Pet/Animal-assisted therapy in Filipino Geriatric clients is effective in decreasing their depression.
1. What is the demographic profile of the respondents:
1.1 Age; and
1.2 Gender?
2. Is there a significant relationship between the demographic profile of the clients and the effect of Pet/Animal-assisted therapy?
3. Is there a significant relationship between the degree of Depression of Geriatric Client and Pet/Animal-assisted therapy?
4. Is there a significant difference between the Degree of Depression before and after the implementation of Pet/Animal Assisted Therapy?
Hypotheses
1. There is no significant relationship between the demographic profile of the clients and the effect of Pet/Animal-assisted therapy.
2. There is no significant relationship between the Degree of Depression of Geriatric clients Depression and Pet/Animal-assisted therapy.
3. There is no significant difference between the Degree of Depression before and after the implementation of Pet/Animal-assisted therapy.
Significance of the Study This section provided brief description on the various significances of the study given the categories Nursing Education and Geriatric Clients.
Geriatric Clients
The study is significant to geriatric clients for it may improve the geriatric clients’ level of understanding with regards to the effects of animal assisted therapy to decrease depression and be comfortable and not resist when being administered such therapy.
Student Nurses
The study is significant to student nurses providing them better awareness regarding the effects of animal assisted therapy to geriatric patients with depression and be able to use such therapy effectively on patients.
Health Care Providers
To the health care provider, the study may improve their knowledge with regards to the use of animal assisted therapy to decrease the level of depression of geriatric clients. Furthermore, the study may enhance better understanding and appreciation on the improvement of quality nursing care to depressed geriatric patients.
Nursing Education
The result of the study is significant to nursing education for the reason that it may provide further knowledge regarding the use of animal-assisted therapy in depressed geriatric patients. Moreover, the study may improve this tool in nursing care and/or provide another tool in administering quality nursing care to depressed geriatric patients.
Scope and Delimitation The study focused on finding out the effectiveness of animal-assisted therapy in decreasing the degree of depression in geriatric clients. The researchers did not diagnose the respondents whether they are depressed. There are 10 respondents both male and female, 60 to 85 years of age, able to articulate, read, understand, and communicate, currently at Kanlungan ni Maria located at Nayon Silangan, Antipolo City.