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Updated: Jun 24, 2025
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Biomarkers in an Animal Model for Revealing Neural, Hematologic, and Behavioral Correlates of PTSD
Published on: October 10, 2012
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Service Dogs for Veterans and Military Members With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Nonrandomized Controlled Trial.
Sarah C Leighton1, Kerri E Rodriguez1, Clare L Jensen1
1College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Arizona, Oro Valley.
JAMA Network Open
|June 4, 2024
Summary
Psychiatric service dogs significantly reduced PTSD symptoms and improved psychosocial functioning in veterans. This complementary intervention shows promise for military service-related PTSD.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Veterans Affairs
- Animal-Assisted Therapy
Background:
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) significantly impacts military members and veterans.
- Psychiatric service dogs are increasingly sought as a complementary intervention for PTSD.
- The effectiveness of psychiatric service dogs for PTSD in veterans remains understudied.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the association between partnership with a psychiatric service dog and PTSD symptom severity.
- To assess the impact of psychiatric service dogs on depression, anxiety, and psychosocial functioning in veterans.
- To determine the effectiveness of psychiatric service dogs as a complementary intervention for military service-related PTSD.
Main Methods:
- A nonrandomized controlled trial was conducted with 156 veterans diagnosed with PTSD.
- Participants were allocated to receive a psychiatric service dog (intervention group) or remain on a waiting list (control group).
- Standardized assessments for PTSD, depression, anxiety, and psychosocial functioning were administered at baseline and 3-month follow-up.
Main Results:
- The intervention group showed significantly lower PTSD symptom severity compared to the control group on both self-reported and clinician-rated measures.
- Veterans partnered with psychiatric service dogs reported significant reductions in depression and anxiety symptoms.
- Psychiatric service dog partnership was associated with improvements in multiple areas of psychosocial functioning, including reduced social isolation.
Conclusions:
- Partnership with a trained psychiatric service dog is associated with reduced PTSD symptom severity and enhanced psychosocial functioning in veterans.
- Psychiatric service dogs represent a potentially effective complementary treatment for military service-related PTSD.
- Further research should explore long-term outcomes and mechanisms of action for psychiatric service dogs in veteran populations.
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