United States – Many military veterans return home suffering from mental disorders, and it was the first test of a prescription that showed that the presence of a service dog reduces the chance of PTSD.
Study Highlights Benefits of Service Dogs
U. S. veterans who have been given a service dog for their PTSD were found to have 66% lower odds of being diagnosed with the condition in the future as compared to the control group of veterans who still have to be assigned a service dog by the authors, according to a study published in the JAMA Network Open on June 4.
It was also observed that clients who consulted these vets had lower levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms and had revealed enhancement in most aspects of their emotional and social health, as reported by HealthDay.
“This research reinforces what we have been studying for almost a decade — that service dogs are linked to significant benefits for many veterans suffering from PTSD and other invisible wounds of war,” said lead researcher Maggie O’Haire, associate dean for research at the University of Arizona College of Veterinary Medicine.
“Service dogs are more than pets — they can be essential partners in helping veterans readjust and thrive after they return from service,” O’Haire said.
In the study, the researchers followed over 150 military veterans for three months.
These vets got their dogs from the K9s For Warriors program, which is the largest service dog provider for military veterans in this country.
Many of the dogs sourced from K9s For Warriors are rescue dogs, the researchers pointed out. The program takes six months to train them, then matches them free of charge with veterans experiencing emotional distress and at high risk of suicidal behaviors.
Addressing Veteran Suicide and PTSD
Experts said it is believed that about one veteran dies by suicide daily, while more than 1 million veterans have PTSD, TBI, or military sexual trauma, researchers stated.
“Since K9s For Warriors has matched over 1,000 service dogs to veterans, our work has shown that these dogs are life-saving and life-changing. These dogs have allowed them to feel connected to the families and the community and to try and live the life that was previously unimaginable,” said Kevin Steele, the chief program officer at the organization, as reported by HealthDay.
“The outcomes of this study also validate what we do here at K9s works,” Steele said in a K9 for Warriors news release as she emphasized that they have research to support the effectiveness of the program.