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An adjunctive human-animal interaction intervention for veterans with PTSD: study protocol for a randomized
Anouk L Grubaugh1, Ursula S Myers2, Stephanie M Keller2
1Ralph H. Johnson Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, 109 Bee Street, Charleston, SC, 29401, USA. grubaugh@musc.edu.
Trials
|December 29, 2019
Summary
This study investigates if human-animal interaction (HAI) can help veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) complete therapy. Results may show HAI reduces emotional numbing and improves treatment completion for PTSD.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Psychology
- Veterans Health
Background:
- Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) often persists without treatment, causing distress and functional impairment.
- Evidence-based treatments (EBTs) like Prolonged Exposure (PE) are effective, but many with PTSD do not start or finish treatment.
- Emotional-numbing symptoms in PTSD may hinder treatment engagement; human-animal interaction (HAI) might alleviate these symptoms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To test the efficacy of the RESCUE intervention, which incorporates HAI, as an adjunctive treatment for PE in veterans with PTSD.
- To determine if HAI can reduce emotional numbing and improve treatment compliance and completion rates in veterans with PTSD undergoing PE.
Main Methods:
- A randomized controlled trial involving 70 veterans with PTSD at a Southeastern VAMC.
- Participants receive up to 12 sessions of PE and are randomized to either volunteer at an animal shelter (HAI group) or a community agency (control group) for in-vivo exposure.
- Outcomes are assessed using clinical interviews, self-report questionnaires, and thematic interviews.
Main Results:
- Hypothesized that the HAI group will show greater reductions in emotional numbing compared to the community volunteer group.
- Anticipated increased treatment compliance and completion rates in the HAI condition.
- The study aims to provide empirical support for the integration of HAI into PTSD treatment.
Conclusions:
- The RESCUE intervention, incorporating HAI, shows promise as an adjunctive treatment for PE in veterans with PTSD.
- If successful, the RESCUE intervention could be readily integrated into standard PE protocols.
- This approach may enhance treatment adherence and outcomes for individuals experiencing emotional numbing associated with PTSD.
