It’s not uncommon for military veterans to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), compounded by the difficult transition back into civilian life. PTSD is a mental health condition which causes a person to relive traumatic events, as well as experiencing low mood and increased arousal. Traditionally, PTSD is treated using a combination of medicines and psychological therapies, but in recent years there has been a rapid increase in the use of psychiatric service dogs.
Psychiatric service dogs for veterans can play an important role in helping veterans manage their PTSD. They can be trained to perform behaviors such as interrupting flashbacks or waking veterans from nightmares. However, they also provide veterans with strong emotional support and constant companionship, as well as providing them with a routine and reason for living.
It’s a sobering fact that the risk of suicide for military veterans is up to four times higher compared to aged-matched civilians. PTSD and substance use have been shown to be two of the biggest predictors of suicide in veterans. Substance abuse, particularly alcohol and prescription medication, is a significant issue amongst veterans who often turn to it as a way to cope with their PTSD.
Despite initiatives to facilitate access to mental health support in veterans, there is still significant sigma associated with doing so in the armed forces. This experience can lead to veterans feeling isolated, especially after rejoining civilian life where they no longer have the camaraderie they experienced in the military. For this reason, service dogs can be particularly valuable for veterans.
Unlike relationships with people, the relationship between veterans and their service dogs are nonjudgmental and nonverbal, allowing veterans to be vulnerable and genuine. A recent qualitative study conducted by researchers at the University of Saskatchewan, Canada, investigated the impact of psychiatric service dogs on substance use and suicidality in veterans with PTSD.
By thematically analyzing interviews with veterans, the results revealed that veterans deemed their service dogs as instrumental to their healing journey. By providing nonjudgmental companionship, service dogs reduced their handlers’ feelings of loneliness and hopelessness. It was also found that the presence of a service dog reduced veterans’ symptoms of PTSD, depression and substance use, which are all linked to an increased risk of suicide.
“When I had the breakdown, not once did the fact of suicide came into my head. Actually, that is a lie – it did come into my head. It really did. And I was thinking about getting a hotel and just doing myself in at the hotel… When we were driving there, and then I said, well, I can’t kill myself because [the Dog] is in the room with me being dead all night long–that would kill [the Dog]. And then, where is [Dog] going to go if I die? So, in a way, she is ultimately the one who kept me from doing it.”
Further support of the therapeutic benefits of psychiatric service dogs beyond mere companionship has been demonstrated in a recent non-randomized controlled trial. The study included 156 veterans with a diagnosis of PTSD, who were divided into two groups: one group received service dogs, whilst the other stayed on the waitlist as a control. Participants in both groups continued their usual therapies and medications as the aim was to measure the additional benefit of service dogs on veterans’ wellbeing after three months.
The findings revealed that veterans in the group that got service dogs reported significantly lower PTSD severity and higher psychosocial functioning (e.g., social isolation). It also showed a reduction in depression and anxiety severity. These findings suggest that service dogs have a measurable therapeutic impact that goes above and beyond the benefits of traditional therapies.
Sleep disturbances, like insomnia and nightmares, are common in people with PTSD. In addition to preventing a good night’s sleep, sleep disturbances can also trigger flashbacks and worsen symptoms, contributing to worsening mental health over time. For this reason, a recent clinical trial conducted at Purdue University investigated the effect service dogs had on the sleep quality of veterans with PTSD.
The study included 155 veterans with PTSD, who again were divided into two groups: one group were paired with a service dog, whilst the other half remained on the waitlist as a control. Over a period of three months, veterans’ sleep quality was captured using qualitative (self-reports) and quantitative (actigraphy: movement and sleep tracker) measures.
The results showed that veterans who had received psychiatric service dogs reported fewer nightmares, less sleep disturbance and were less fearful about falling asleep. However, no significant differences in sleep quality were found using the objective data captured by the actigraphy. Overall, the results revealed that veterans with service dogs felt safer, which may have a knock-on impact on their PTSD symptoms.
In addition to reducing PTSD symptoms, recent research has also investigated the role of service dogs in promoting positive psychological change, known as post-traumatic growth, in veterans with PTSD. Unlike other measures, which tend to focus on the negative effects of trauma, post-traumatic growth captures how individuals can use these experiences to grow and develop.
A recent study accessed post-traumatic growth in veterans with psychiatric service dogs, revealing growth in five key areas: improved relationships with others, new possibilities, greater appreciation for life, greater sense of personal strength and new perspectives on spiritual and existential issues. Through the companionship, emotional support and sense of purpose that service dogs provide, veterans were able to continue to grow, even whilst managing symptoms of PTSD.
The scientific evidence supporting the effectiveness of psychiatric service dogs as complimentary treatment for veterans with PTSD continues to grow. In addition to companionship, these dogs play a crucial role in reducing their handler’s symptoms of PTSD, depression and suicidal ideation. Also, by helping veterans reconnect with communities and giving them a sense of purpose, service dogs can help veterans with PTSD grow during this time. Overall, the findings of this recent research demonstrate that psychiatric service dogs can be a lifeline to military veterans, providing them with more than help with daily tasks, but a reason to live and an invaluable resource in the battle against PTSD.
Article by Dr. Carla J Hart: https://linktr.ee/carlajadehart
Related Content
- Audeamus PTSD Service Dogs, ACAC Accredited Peer-Support Model for Veterans and First Responders – Presented by Chris Lohnes and Grace Rath
- Examining the Role of Significant Others in Canine Welfare within the Context of Veterans Working with Service Dogs – Presented by Linzi Williamson
References
- Service Dogs for Veterans and Military Members With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
- Exploring the role of service dogs for Canadian military Veterans experiencing suicidality
- Service Dogs: A Catalyst for Post-Traumatic Growth Among Military Veterans with PTSD Military Veterans with PTSD
- The influence of service dog partnerships on perceived and objective sleep quality for military veterans with PTSD