Examining the effects of a novel training program and use of psychiatric service dogs for military-related PTSD and associated symptoms.

Abstract

This study explored an intensive 3-week training program and use of psychiatric service dogs for military-related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and associated symptoms. The sample included 2 separate cohorts of military veterans (n = 7 and n = 5) with prior diagnoses of PTSD. Participants completed self-report measures assessing PTSD, depression, perception of social support, anger, and overall quality of life 1 month prior to the training (baseline), at arrival to the training site, and 6-month follow-up. Results indicated that, for this sample, there was a statistically significant decrease in PTSD and depression symptoms from pre- to posttreatment, as well as 6-month follow-up. For most participants decreases were both clinically significant and reliable changes. Further, participants reported significant reductions in anger and improvement in perceived social support and quality of life. Limitations of the study include a lack of control group, a limitation of most naturalistic studies, as well as small sample size. Despite this, the findings indicate that utilizing psychiatric service dogs, coupled with an intensive trauma resilience training program for veterans with ongoing symptoms, is feasible as a complementary treatment for PTSD that could yield beneficial results in terms of symptom amelioration and improvement to overall quality of life. (PsycINFO Database Record

The study of service dogs for veterans with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: a scoping literature review

“…This review demonstrated that there is relatively little empiric evidence available which supports the effectiveness of PSDs in the treatment of PTSD symptoms. Although it has been found that PSDs can positively influence perceived welfare and quality of life of those with PTSD (Kloep et al, 2017;Vincent et al, 2017;Yarborough et al, 2017), this evidence is mostly based on anecdotal reports and subject selfreport, making validity disputable. It does not explain to what extent the observed effect is influenced by the actual trained behaviour of the PSD, and to what extent by the inherent effects of human-animal interaction.…”

“…Looking at current literature regarding PSDs, this statement holds true, as many studies on the effectiveness of PSDs show small sample sizes, a lack of control group, and no true randomization of research subjects. Some mention this lack as a constraint in their reporting, and Kloep, Hunter, and Kertz (2017) even names it as inherent to the research type. These factors are often absent because studies of PSDs necessarily depend on the availability of subjects with established PTSD, their willingness to participate, and the availability of service dogs.…”

“…The above-mentioned methods still cannot account for all possible variation, however, as it cannot be excluded that factors such as habituation with measurement method, will to please the researchers, or placebo effect could have affected findings. Findings of positive PSD effects in the studies by , Kloep et al (2017), Vincent et al (2017), andYarborough et al (2017) are furthermore solely based on self-perceived welfare of assisted humans which, though an important measurement tool, is poorly reproducible, poorly translatable to different study groups, and poorly comparable between different studies. Among the 19 studies included in this review, only six provided observational evidence of the effect of PSDs on the impact of PTSD between groups or within an individual over time.…”

“…Among the 19 studies included in this review, only six provided observational evidence of the effect of PSDs on the impact of PTSD between groups or within an individual over time. Four of these studies (Kloep et al, 2017;Vincent et al, 2017;Yarborough et al, 2017) used multiple questionnaires among veterans to do so, one used interviews, and one used media response analysis. The four questionnaire-based studies made use of a total of 19 questionnaires (Table 1).…”

Service Dogs for Veterans with PTSD: Taxonomy, Work Stress Reduction, and Matching

“…Animals have been shown to provide therapeutic benefits to a variety of populations, including individuals with PTSD (Krause-Parello, Sarni, & Padden, 2016;Kloep, 2016;Kloep, Hunter, and Kertz, 2017). Using animals to assist veterans with PTSD is a topic of interest and may be an effective adjunct to standard treatment; however, several obstacles have hindered the advancement of this approach.…”