New research reveals positive mental health changes in veterans after receiving a service dog

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that can be triggered by experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. It is more common in veterans, affecting between 7-23 in 100, and can cause anxiety, depression and social isolation. In addition to traditional treatments, the use of psychiatric service dogs is becoming increasingly common.

A recent study, which is the largest of its kind to date, investigated the mental health impact of receiving a psychiatric service dog on veterans with PTSD. The findings revealed the positive impact these dogs can have on veterans struggling with PTSD, offering not only companionship, but also strong emotional support.

New research into veterans with PTSD

The study included 156 veterans, with a diagnosis of PTSD, who were divided into two groups. One group received a trained psychiatric service dog immediately, whilst the other group remained on a waiting list, continuing with their usual care.

Researchers captured baseline levels of veterans’ PTSD, depression, anxiety, psychosocial functioning, quality of life, and suicidality at the start of the study using self-reported and clinician-administered measures. These same assessments were repeated approximately three months later to evaluate the impact of the intervention.

Impact of psychiatric service dogs

The findings revealed that veterans in the service dog group exhibited significantly lower PTSD symptom severity compared to those on the waiting list. They also reported lower levels of depression and anxiety, which are commonly co-morbid with PTSD.

Beyond symptom reduction, improvements were also noted in veterans’ psychosocial functioning. Veterans with service dogs experienced decreased social isolation and increased feelings of companionship. However, some participants also reported reduced social activity, possibly due negative interactions such as access denials.

Research takeaway

The study provides robust evidence supporting the use of psychiatric service dogs as a complementary intervention for veterans with PTSD. The observed reductions in PTSD symptoms, depression, and anxiety, along with improvements in psychosocial functioning, suggest that service dogs could play a valuable role in comprehensive treatment strategies.

Key study findings:

• Veterans with service dogs reported lower PTSD symptom severity
• Veterans with service dogs had lower anxiety and depression
• Veterans with service dogs felt less socially isolated