Service dog training programs for veterans with PTSD: results of a pilot controlled study

Whitworth, James D.; Scotland-Coogan, Diane; Wharton, Tracy

doi:10.1080/00981389.2019.1580238

Cited by 30 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 40 publications

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“…In a study of six veterans with PTSD, Robyn (2019) found a correlation between decreased arousal and decreased nightmares during the time they were equipped with a service dog. Whitworth and colleagues (2019) found a decrease in key trauma-related symptoms, such as hyperarousal, anxiety, and intrusion, in a controlled study, mirroring recent findings by O’Haire and Rodriguez (2018) and Rodriguez, Bryce, Granger, and O’Haire (2018).…”

Section: Service Dogs In Ptsd Treatmentsupporting

confidence: 80%

“…The use of service dogs for blind or debilitated veterans has a long history (Ostermeier, 2010). In recent decades, the use of animals for relieving mental health challenges, improving both life quality and psychosocial functioning in veterans, has been suggested in numerous limited-scale or single-case studies (Fine, 2010; Taylor, Edwards, & Pooley, 2013) and recently in a few controlled or larger scale studies (van Houtert, Endenburg, Wijnker, Rodenburg, & Vermetten, 2018; Whitworth, Scotland-Coogan, & Wharton, 2019; Yarborough, Stumbo, Yarborough, Owen-Smith, & Green, 2018). However, the effects of and mechanisms involved in service dog interventions are poorly understood, as research efforts into this domain have been very limited until recently (Santaniello et al, 2020; van Houtert et al, 2018).…”

Section: Animal-assisted Interventionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In studies with psychiatric patients, animals responding to patient’s behaviors have been shown to reduce arousal levels (Bernabei et al, 2013; Fecteau et al, 2017; O’Haire, 2013). Recent research has suggested that the dog’s attachment behaviors toward the veteran may facilitate a reconnection between the veteran and close relatives (Whitworth et al, 2019; Yarborough et al, 2018), even suggesting attachment to be a key mechanism in how service dogs alter life of veterans with PTSD (Whitworth et al, 2019).…”

Section: Animal-assisted Interventionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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An explorative clinical pilot study into the effect of service dogs on chronic posttraumatic stress disorder.

Galsgaard¹,

Eskelund²

2020

Traumatology

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Service dogs are increasingly used with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) patients. This study explores how the companionship of a service dog may increase the control over PTSD symptoms, everyday functional abilities, and quality of life. A group of 4 veterans diagnosed with chronic, severe, combat-related PTSD were included in the study. All participants had undergone several unsuccessful psychotherapeutic and pharmacological treatment attempts. All received a puppy at baseline and participated in training it toward becoming a service dog. All participated in monthly group meetings with a clinical psychologist. Symptom levels were screened at start and end of the intervention, as well as at follow-up, encompassing a 16-month study period. Though 3 out of 4 still had symptoms indicating probable PTSD at follow-up, all group members reported an increased ability to control their daily life problems, such as disturbed sleep, social isolation, physical inactivity, lack of emotional regulation, and reduced quality of life. Findings did not indicate clear and distinct changes in overall PTSD symptom levels. However, all participants reported higher quality of life and an enhanced perceived control of their symptoms. This discrepancy calls for further research into the mechanisms involved in living with a service dog, as well as better controlled research designs. Service dogs may provide a viable alternative intervention for PTSD patients with chronic symptoms, when continued and repeated psychotherapeutic or pharmacological interventions are ineffective.

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Section: Service Dogs In Ptsd Treatmentsupporting

confidence: 80%

Section: Animal-assisted Interventionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Animal-assisted Interventionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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An explorative clinical pilot study into the effect of service dogs on chronic posttraumatic stress disorder.

Galsgaard¹,

Eskelund²

2020

Traumatology

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“…Research has shown that both pet dogs and service dogs can be useful as a “social bridge” to facilitate social interaction with strangers (e.g., Eddy et al, 1988 ; McNicholas and Collis, 2000 ). Additionally, research has found that veterans with PTSD service dogs report less social isolation and more social participation than veterans on the waitlist for a service dog receiving treatment as usual ( Bergen-Cico et al, 2018 ; O’Haire and Rodriguez, 2018 ; Whitworth et al, 2019 ). In this context, the social greeting task may serve as a key component of this observed improvement in social interactions.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Cross-sectional studies suggest that compared to receiving usual care while on the waitlist, having a PTSD service dog is associated with lower PTSD symptoms, better quality of life, and better social functioning in addition to more regulated production of the stress hormone cortisol ( Yarborough et al, 2017 ; O’Haire and Rodriguez, 2018 ; Rodriguez et al, 2018 ). Similarly, longitudinal studies have found that after receiving a PTSD service dog, veterans self-report significant improvements to PTSD symptoms in addition to secondary outcomes such as depression, anxiety, and quality of life ( Kloep, 2016 ; Bergen-Cico et al, 2018 ; Whitworth et al, 2019 ). This emerging literature base is complemented by qualitative reports suggesting that PTSD service dogs can provide significant social and emotional support, reduce stress, and improve veterans’ overall quality of life ( Taylor et al, 2013 ; Yount et al, 2013 ; Krause-Parello and Morales, 2018 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Defining the PTSD Service Dog Intervention: Perceived Importance, Usage, and Symptom Specificity of Psychiatric Service Dogs for Military Veterans

et al. 2020

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Research suggests that psychiatric service dogs may be an effective complementary treatment option for military veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Although this practice continues to increase in popularity and research has reached the rigor of clinical trials, the components of the PTSD service dog intervention remain largely undefined. This research aimed to (1) quantify the importance, usage, and PTSD symptom specificity of service dog trained and untrained behaviors, (2) explore how PTSD severity, time since receiving the service dog, and the veteran-dog relationship relate to outcomes, and (3) compare expectations of veterans on the waitlist to experiences of veterans with service dogs. In a cross-sectional design, 217 post-9/11 military veterans with PTSD were recruited from a national service dog provider, including n = 134 with a service dog and n = 83 on the waitlist. Results showed that the service dog’s trained tasks of calming and interrupting anxiety were perceived as the most important for veterans’ PTSD, the most frequently used in a typical day, and as helping the most PTSD symptoms. Trained tasks were most helpful to the PTSD symptoms of hypervigilance and intrusion, and least helpful toward the symptoms of amnesia and risk-taking. Although all trained tasks were helpful toward PTSD symptoms, veterans rated the service dog’s untrained behaviors on average as more important for their PTSD. After controlling for covariates, there was no relationship between a veteran’s PTSD severity and perceived importance or frequency of task use. However, veterans who reported feeling closer to their service dogs reported using trained tasks more often, and veterans who had their service dogs for longer reported using trained tasks less often. Finally, veterans on the waitlist reported higher expectations regarding task use and importance than described by veterans with a service dog. In conclusion, findings describe the core components of the PTSD service dog intervention by quantifying the use and value of trained and untrained dog behaviors. Overall, this study helps explain the PTSD service dog’s clinically relevant value while contributing to the scientific understanding of this emerging practice.

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Results in the Existing Literature

Bennett,

Goodall

2024

The Role That Assistance Dogs Play in Supporting People With Disabilities

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Service dog training programs for veterans with PTSD: results of a pilot controlled study

Cited by 30 publications

References 40 publications

An explorative clinical pilot study into the effect of service dogs on chronic posttraumatic stress disorder.

An explorative clinical pilot study into the effect of service dogs on chronic posttraumatic stress disorder.

Defining the PTSD Service Dog Intervention: Perceived Importance, Usage, and Symptom Specificity of Psychiatric Service Dogs for Military Veterans

Results in the Existing Literature

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