A sheep is seen in open-air market in southern Tehran, Iran on December 20, 2007. Muslims worldwide observe the Eid al-Adha festival during which they sacrifice permissible animals, generally rams, goats, sheep, cows and camels to commemorate the story of the Prophet Abraham and his readiness to sacrifice his son Ismael as an act of obedience to God, who provided a lamb to be used instead. (UPI Photo/Mohammad Kheirkhah)

Bente Berget and Bjarne Braastad of the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (OTCPK:LFSC) in As, Norway, conducted a randomized controlled study of 90 patients -- 59 women and 31 men -- with schizophrenia, affective disorders, anxiety and personality disorders. The study subjects completed self-assessment questionnaires on quality of life, coping ability and self-efficacy -- self-judgment of goal meeting capabilities -- before a 12-week period spending three hours twice a week working with the farm animals.

"During the six months follow-up period self-efficacy was significantly better in the treatment group, but not in the control group," the researchers said in a statement.

The use of farms in promoting human mental and physical health in cooperation with health authorities is increasing in Europe and the United States, the study authors said.

The findings were published in the journal Clinical Practice and Epidemiology in Mental Health.