Quantifying the Efficacy and Role of Service Dogs for Military Veterans With PTSD
Overview
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Intervention
- Not specified
- Conditions
- Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Sponsor
- University of Arizona
- Enrollment
- 170
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- PTSD Severity and Symptoms Via Self-report
- Status
- Completed
- Last Updated
- last year
Overview
Brief Summary
The purpose of this study is to quantify the therapeutic efficacy and role of trained service dogs on socio-emotional functioning among military veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Detailed Description
The long-term research goal is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of service dogs as a complementary intervention to enhance biopsychosocial functioning in special populations. The objective is to conduct a methodologically rigorous trial to quantify the therapeutic efficacy of service dogs on clinically-important outcomes for veterans with PTSD. Based on preliminary findings and qualitative reports, the central hypothesis is that military veterans with PTSD who are provided service dogs will experience reduced PTSD symptoms related to socio-emotional functioning and arousal modulation. The rationale for this research is that its successful completion will provide an evidence-based demonstration of the efficacy and role of an increasingly used yet poorly tested complementary intervention. The completion of this project is expected to established an initial demonstration of the therapeutic efficacy of service dogs in this population, as well as possible mechanisms of action via specific biological pathways and human-canine interaction profiles.
Investigators
Maggie O'Haire
Professor
University of Arizona
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria
- Not provided
Exclusion Criteria
- Not provided
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
PTSD Severity and Symptoms Via Self-report
Time Frame: 3 months
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-V (PCL-5); range 0-80; higher scores indicate worse outcome.
PTSD Severity and Symptoms Via Clinician Rating
Time Frame: 3 months
Clinician-Administered PTSD Assessment for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition DSM-V (CAPS-5); range 0-80; higher scores indicate worse outcome.
Depression
Time Frame: 3 months
Patient Reported Outcome Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Adult Short Form (SF) v1.0 - Emotional Distress - Depression 8a; T-score range 38 to 81; 50 indicates the population mean with a standard deviation of 10; minimally important difference greater than or equal to 3 points; higher scores indicate worse outcome.
Anxiety
Time Frame: 3 months
Patient Reported Outcome Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Adult Short Form (SF) v1.0 - Emotional Distress - Anxiety 8a; T-score range 37 to 83; 50 indicates the population mean with a standard deviation of 10; minimally important difference greater than or equal to 3 points; higher scores indicate worse outcome.
Secondary Outcomes
- Psychological Well-being(3 months)
- Social Isolation(3 months)
- Companionship(3 months)
- Ability to Participate in Social Activities(3 months)
- Mental Health Quality of Life(3 months)
- Life Satisfaction(3 months)
- Resilience(3 months)
- Anger(3 months)
- Daily Socio-emotional Experiences(3 months)