A National Institutes of Health-funded study reveals that adding a service dog to the usual care for military members and veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) significantly reduces PTSD symptoms, anxiety, and depression.
Conducted by Dr. Marguerite E. O’Haire of the University of Arizona College of Veterinary Medicine, the study is the largest of its kind, involving 156 participants recruited through K9s For Warriors.
After three months, the 81 participants with service dogs reported notably lower PTSD severity, anxiety, and depression, along with less social isolation and higher companionship than the 75 waitlisted participants. All participants maintained unrestricted access to their usual care.
The findings, published in JAMA Network Open, underscore the potential of service dogs to enhance the quality of life and psychosocial functioning for those struggling with PTSD.
Reporting for WGRT – Choze Powell
