The National Center for PTSD estimates that 11 to 20% of military veterans in the U.S who served in recent conflicts are dealing with PTSD symptoms related to their time in the service, and about 30% of Vietnam veterans experience this disorder during their lifetime.
According to Dr. Jim Whitworth, an associate professor at the UCF School of Social Work who conducts research on this topic, there is growing evidence that service dogs can help veterans with PTSD transition into non-military life and reengage with in their lives. Whitworth reports that service dogs may be particularly helpful for veterans who are hesitant to participate in other intervention programs and who have isolated themselves from family, friends and community members. He says they can also help these veterans increase their participation in proven research-based approaches provided by the VA and other agencies designed to help them address and manage their PTSD symptoms.
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Gregg Laskoski is communications director for K9 Partners for Patriots in Brooksville. - Original Credit: Courtesy photo (Courtesy photo)
Service dogs perform specific functions for veterans who struggle accomplishing tasks as a result of their having PTSD. They can assist veterans in completing specific behaviors when symptoms are present. When needed, these service dogs can also assist veterans with tasks such as reminding them to take their medications, retrieving dropped items or keeping their balance. They can also provide veterans with a sense of purpose and help them reconnect with others in their lives especially spouses, partners, children, parents, friends and coworkers.
Whitworth explains that service dogs help veterans manage their PTSD symptoms by interrupting their anger episodes; waking them from a nightmare; helping them be present in the moment; or, sensing their hyperarousal and then getting their attention.
In perhaps the most rigorous study to date into these programs, the VA recently completed a multi-year multisite investigation that compared the benefits of pairing a service dog versus pairing an emotional support dog with veterans dealing with PTSD. The study included 97 veterans with PTSD that were matched with a service dog and 84 veterans who were matched with an emotional support dog. Dogs involved in the study were provided by 3 different dog agencies from across the country. The study defined service dogs as "a dog that is trained to perform one or more tasks to mitigate a disability" and emotional support dogs as "a dog trained in obedience commands but not trained to perform a task that mitigates a disability."
Although results of this investigation showed that both types of dogs can equally support these veterans in addressing their overall sense of disability and improving their quality of life, service dogs were notably better compared to emotional support dogs in helping the veterans in the study manage PTSD symptoms. The findings of the study highlight some promising and distinct benefits that service dogs appear to provide for these veterans.
Whitworth notes that there is still a great deal more research needed to understand how and in what ways service dogs may help these veterans. He has documented some of the benefits of service dogs for veterans with PTSD in six different published studies involving multiple canine agencies.
Several of these studies were conducted at K9 Partners for Patriots in Brooksville. In one study, spouses, and partners of veterans with PTSD who participated in the service dog program played a major role in helping these veterans build a three-part "relational bridge" that helps reduce PTSD symptoms; increases resiliency, and improves relational functioning. Like many others in the study, one spouse stated "with his service dog he has been more able to come out and socialize even with just the family, instead of isolating. He used to isolate himself in the bedroom and not be able to handle it, but with his dog with him, he is able to come out and spend more time with the family and interact and participate."
Gregg Laskoski is communications director for K9 Partners for Patriots in Brooksville.
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According to Dr. Jim Whitworth, an associate professor at the UCF School of Social Work who conducts research on this topic, there is growing evidence that service dogs can help veterans with PTSD transition into non-military life and reengage with in their lives. Whitworth reports that service dogs may be particularly helpful for veterans who are hesitant to participate in other intervention programs and who have isolated themselves from family, friends and community members. He says they can also help these veterans increase their participation in proven research-based approaches provided by the VA and other agencies designed to help them address and manage their PTSD symptoms.
Gregg Laskoski is communications director for K9 Partners for Patriots in Brooksville. - Original Credit: Courtesy photo (Courtesy photo)
Service dogs perform specific functions for veterans who struggle accomplishing tasks as a result of their having PTSD. They can assist veterans in completing specific behaviors when symptoms are present. When needed, these service dogs can also assist veterans with tasks such as reminding them to take their medications, retrieving dropped items or keeping their balance. They can also provide veterans with a sense of purpose and help them reconnect with others in their lives especially spouses, partners, children, parents, friends and coworkers.
Whitworth explains that service dogs help veterans manage their PTSD symptoms by interrupting their anger episodes; waking them from a nightmare; helping them be present in the moment; or, sensing their hyperarousal and then getting their attention.
In perhaps the most rigorous study to date into these programs, the VA recently completed a multi-year multisite investigation that compared the benefits of pairing a service dog versus pairing an emotional support dog with veterans dealing with PTSD. The study included 97 veterans with PTSD that were matched with a service dog and 84 veterans who were matched with an emotional support dog. Dogs involved in the study were provided by 3 different dog agencies from across the country. The study defined service dogs as "a dog that is trained to perform one or more tasks to mitigate a disability" and emotional support dogs as "a dog trained in obedience commands but not trained to perform a task that mitigates a disability."
Although results of this investigation showed that both types of dogs can equally support these veterans in addressing their overall sense of disability and improving their quality of life, service dogs were notably better compared to emotional support dogs in helping the veterans in the study manage PTSD symptoms. The findings of the study highlight some promising and distinct benefits that service dogs appear to provide for these veterans.
Whitworth notes that there is still a great deal more research needed to understand how and in what ways service dogs may help these veterans. He has documented some of the benefits of service dogs for veterans with PTSD in six different published studies involving multiple canine agencies.
Several of these studies were conducted at K9 Partners for Patriots in Brooksville. In one study, spouses, and partners of veterans with PTSD who participated in the service dog program played a major role in helping these veterans build a three-part "relational bridge" that helps reduce PTSD symptoms; increases resiliency, and improves relational functioning. Like many others in the study, one spouse stated "with his service dog he has been more able to come out and socialize even with just the family, instead of isolating. He used to isolate himself in the bedroom and not be able to handle it, but with his dog with him, he is able to come out and spend more time with the family and interact and participate."
Gregg Laskoski is communications director for K9 Partners for Patriots in Brooksville.
Service dogs can be lifesavers for veterans with PTSD | Commentary
As an employee of a Brooksville service-dog organization writes in a guest column, service dogs have specific benefits for veterans with PTSD, allowing them to engage more with loved ones and keep a regular schedule.
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