Veterans Training Service Dogs for Other Veterans: An Animal-Assisted Intervention for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Research on the post-deployment reintegration needs of women veterans is limited. Non-traditional support may enhance mental health. Relationships with animals and volunteering may aid those with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Using the biopsychosocial model, we examined whether participation in an 8-week service dog training program (SDTP) affected telomere length (TL), heart rate variability (HRV), PTSD symptom severity, perceived stress, and anxiety in female veterans with PTSD, as well as whether combat exposure influenced these relationships. Female veterans (ages 32-72, M = 45.9, SD = 11.8) with PTSD were randomized to either the SDTP group (n = 13) or a comparison group (n = 15) that received dog training video content. The interventions lasted one hour weekly for 8 weeks. Outcomes were assessed pre-, mid-, and post-intervention. Linear mixed models with random intercepts examined changes from pre- to post-intervention and compared changes by group and combat exposure. TL changes differed [F(1,11.65) = 3.543, p = 0.085] by intervention. In the SDTP group, TL increased, indicating reduced cellular senescence (i.e., slower biological aging), whereas TL decreased in the CI group. Combat exposure moderated these changes [F(1,12.36) = 5.41, p = 0.038]. HRV changed by intervention group [F(1,389.08) = 10.623, p = 0.001]. HRV decreased (stress increased) in the SDTP group but not in the CI group. Combat exposure did not moderate HRV changes. PTSD symptom severity [F(1,48.04) = 19.22, p < 0.001], perceived stress [F(1,48.48) = 14.65, p < 0.001], and anxiety [F(1,47.30) = 6.624, p = 0.013] decreased significantly from pre- to post-interventions; the decreases did not differ by intervention or combat exposure.