Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), an invisible wound of war, affects approximately 20%1 of the 18.5 million U.S. veterans and places them at higher risk for impaired biopsychosocial functioning. PTSD symptom severity (PTSDSS) is significantly correlated with stress and psychosocial consequences of inability to regulate emotions, control impulsive behaviors, and function within family and society. Alarming veteran PTSD rates and its insidious effects demand empirically validated treatment programs. More than a million veterans receive new diagnoses of each year. VA PTSD therapy programs reach only 1% of veterans. Nearly 35% of veterans do not respond to widely used psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy treatments. Training a service dog (SD) is a novel rehabilitative animal-assisted intervention that shows promise in other populations. This project evaluates the efficacy of a service dog training program (SDTP) as an alternative and adjunctive treatment and rehabilitative option for veterans with PTSD.
Veterans with PTSD attend 8 weekly sessions of either training a service dog or learning about how to train a dog at the Warrior Canine Connection facility in Boyds MD. They complete questionnaires prior to the start of the program and at the midpoint (after 4 sessions) and end of the program (after 8 sessions). Participants also wear a monitor to record heart rate variability during the 1st, 4th, and 8th sessions and provide saliva samples at these same times.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
60
Participate in 8 weekly dog training sessions using a positive reinforcement method and curriculum under the direct supervision of trainer at the Warrior Canine Connection facility in Boyds (Montgomery County) MD.
Learn about training dogs by watching 8 weekly dog training online modules programs at the Warrior Canine Connection facility in Boyds (Montgomery County) MD. After completing this education the participants will participate in the service dog training program.
Warrior Canine Connections
Boyds, Maryland, United States
Post Traumatic Stress Symptom Severity
Post traumatic stress disorder checklist for DSM-5 range of scores 0-80; higher score is worse (more PTSD)
Time frame: Baseline, 8 weeks
Stress Biomarker Markers:Cortisol
salivary cortisol ug/dL; higher is more stress
Time frame: Baseline, 8 weeks
Stress Biomarkers: Alpha Amylase
salivary alpha amylase U/mL; higher is more stress
Time frame: Baseline, 8 weeks
Stress Biomarkers: IgA
salivary immunoglobulin A μg/mL; higher is less stress
Time frame: Baseline, 8 weeks
Stress Biomarkers: HRV
Heart rate variability Polar H7 heart rate sensor worn around the chest and matching Polar V800 GPS Sports Watch, higher is better
Time frame: baseline, 8 weeks
Stress Marker: Perceived Stress
Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Perceived Stress; PROMIS PS, score range 10 to 50, T scores range from 22.7 to 87.1, higher is more stress perceived
Time frame: Baseline, 8 weeks
Psychosocial Health: Positive Affect
PROMIS Positive Affect Short Form 15 (PA 152), raw scores range from 15 to 75 they are converted to T scores range of 14.4 to 69.9 with a mean of 50 and SD or 10, higher is greater positive affect
Time frame: Baseline, 8 weeks
Psychosocial Health: Health Related Quality of Life
Veterans RAND 12 Item Health Survey (VR-12); physical health and mental health subscales; scales are calculated with an algorithm with a mean of 50 as the 50th percentile of the U.S. population; higher score is better (higher quality of life).
Time frame: Baseline, 8 weeks
Psychosocial Health: Resilience
Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC-10), scores range from 0 to 40, higher score is more resilient
Time frame: Baseline, 8 weeks
Psychosocial Health: Relationship With Friends and Family
Relationship Scale Questionnaire (RSQ) , 4 subscales are created from average of items: Secure scale is the average of 3, 9(Reverse),10, 15, 28(Reverse). Fearful scale is the average of 1, 5, 12, 24. Preoccupied scale is the average of 6(Reverse), 8, 16, 25. Dismissing scale is the average of 2, 6, 19, 22, 26. Subscale scores range from 1 to 5. Higher scores are poorer relationships
Time frame: Baseline, 8 weeks
Psychosocial Health: Quality of Individual's Relationships
PROMIS Satisfaction with Social Roles and Activities (SSRA)-Short Form 4a (PROMIS-SSRA), raw scores range from 4 to 20, T scores range from 27.9 to 63.8, higher score is more satisfaction
Time frame: Baseline, 8 weeks
Psychosocial Health: Satisfaction With Social Activities
PROMIS Short Form v1.0- Satisfaction with Participation in Discretionary Social Activities- Short Form 7a (PROMIS SPDSA) raw scores range from 7 to 35, T scores range from 28.7 to 67.3, higher score is more satisfaction
Time frame: Baseline, 8 weeks
Psychosocial Health: Companionship
PROMIS Companionship - Short Form 4a (PROMIS-C) raw scores range from 4 to 20, T scores range from 25.2 to 65.3, higher score is more companionship
Time frame: Baseline, 8 weeks
Psychosocial Health:Depression
PROMIS Depression Short-Form 8a (PROMIS-D), raw scores range from 8 to 40, T scores range from 0-100, higher score is more depression
Time frame: baseline, 8 weeks
Psychosocial Health: Anxiety
PROMIS Anxiety Short-Form 8a (PROMIS-A) raw scores range from 8 to 40, T scores range from 0-100, higher score is more anxiety
Time frame: baseline, 8 weeks
Psychosocial Health: Suicidal Ideation
Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation (BSSI), raw scores range from 0 to 38, higher score is greater suicidal ideation
Time frame: Baseline, 8 weeks
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.