Multi-site, Longitudinal Trial Evaluating the Efficacy, Mechanisms, and Moderators of Service Dogs for Military Veterans With PTSD
- Conditions
- Animal-Human BondingStress Disorders, Post-TraumaticCombat Stress Disorders
- Interventions
- Other: PTSD Service Dog
- Registration Number
- NCT05900479
- Lead Sponsor
- University of Arizona
- Brief Summary
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among military Veterans is a critical public health concern. Veteran suicide rates exceed those of the general population, with the disorder creating a mental health challenge that is costly and debilitating. The majority of Veterans with PTSD also have comorbid mental health diagnoses, such as generalized anxiety disorder, substance abuse disorder, and major depression. The treatment of Veteran PTSD and comorbid disorders represents an important therapeutic and rehabilitation problem. The disorder is complex and difficult to treat, with high treatment dropout and nonresponse rates spurring some Veterans to seek complementary integrative health strategies. One promising complementary strategy is the provision of a trained service dog. Initial evidence across multiple research groups highlights service dogs as a promising complement to evidence-based practices that can offer short-term improvements. However, the long-term effectiveness, mechanisms of action, and moderators of efficacy remain largely unknown. Thus, the overarching objective of this proposal is to understand how, why, and for whom PTSD service dogs are most effective.
To address this objective, the present project will assess the longitudinal efficacy and dose-response curve of service dogs for Veteran PTSD symptomology and psychosocial functioning. The research design will consist of a two-arm, randomized clinical trial (RCT) with longitudinal assessments over a period of 15 months. Results are expected to elucidate the clinical impact of service dogs for military Veterans with PTSD, as well as the biobehavioral mechanisms of action and characteristics that moderate efficacy. These outcomes will support the long-term goal of accelerating complementary and integrative health interventions, through optimized and evidence-based service dog interventions. As such, this project will further advance the scientific understanding of human-animal interactions for psychosocial health.
- Detailed Description
Not available
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- ENROLLING_BY_INVITATION
- Sex
- All
- Target Recruitment
- 150
- Applied for and approved to receive a psychiatric service dog from Canine Companions, K9s For Warriors, or America's VetDogs
- First service dog (not a successor service dog)
- Military service
- Honorable discharge or current honorable service
- Diagnosis of PTSD
- No conviction of any crimes against animals
Not provided
Study & Design
- Study Type
- INTERVENTIONAL
- Study Design
- PARALLEL
- Arm && Interventions
Group Intervention Description PTSD Service Dog PTSD Service Dog -
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method PTSD Severity and symptoms via self-report 8 months Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-V (PCL-5, Range 0-80, Lower scores indicate a better outcome)
- Secondary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method PTSD Severity and symptoms via blinded clinician rating 8 months Clinician-Administered PTSD Assessment for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition DSM-V (CAPS-5-R, Range 0-80, Lower scores indicate a better outcome)
Depression 8 months Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9, Range 1-27, Lower scores indicate a better outcome)
Anxiety 8 months Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) - Anxiety 8a (Raw Score Range 8-40, Lower scores indicate a better outcome)
Trial Locations
- Locations (1)
University of Arizona
🇺🇸Tucson, Arizona, United States