Assistance dogs could improve outcomes in veteran PTSD, says new study

We all know that dogs are supposedly a man’s best friend, but a recent study by researchers from multiple institutes in Australia suggest that assistance dogs could provide a benefit to veterans suffering from a variety of mental health conditions.

While the true incidence of post-traumatic stress disorder amongst returning veterans is not clear, evidence suggests the current treatment for the disorder among this group is not always the most successful. Veterans engaged in traditional treatment methods for the disorder are said to have low adherence rates to treatment and high dropout rates from prescribed treatments. 

Researchers from the University of South Australia, University of Adelaide and Military and Emergency Services Health Australia (MESHA) evaluated the treatment outcomes of 16 returned veterans when traditional therapies for post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and depression were used in conjunction with assistance dogs. The study was conducted over a period of 12 months, using clinical assessments, self-reported measures and face-to-face interviews to determine the value of assistance dogs.

Thematic analysis of the qualitative data gathered yielded three important themes: life changer, constant companion and social engagement. According to Miranda Van Hooff, an Adjunct Associate Professor at UniSA and UoA, “an assistance dog gave [some veterans] a sense of purpose and a reason to live.”

This was further supported by clinical assessments suggesting that there was a slight decrease in reports of suicidal feelings from the participants. While this was not a significant decline, the study reported a large reduction in the symptoms associated with depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder. While the study was conducted amongst a small sample group and without the robustness afforded by a control group, the group is continuing research to greater understand the role assistance dogs can play alongside existing treatment approaches.

For those who will not receive the full benefit of traditional methods of treatment, the study intervention could be an important means to provide returning veterans with the support to reclaim aspects of their life they might otherwise struggle with.