Kloep Megan L, Hunter Richard H, Kertz Sarah J
Department of Psychology, Southern Illinois University Carbondale.
Department of Psychology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Am J Orthopsychiatry. 2017;87(4):425-433. doi: 10.1037/ort0000254. Epub 2017 Mar 13.
This study explored an intensive 3-week training program and use of psychiatric service dogs for military-related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and associated symptoms. The sample included 2 separate cohorts of military veterans (n = 7 and n = 5) with prior diagnoses of PTSD. Participants completed self-report measures assessing PTSD, depression, perception of social support, anger, and overall quality of life 1 month prior to the training (baseline), at arrival to the training site, and 6-month follow-up. Results indicated that, for this sample, there was a statistically significant decrease in PTSD and depression symptoms from pre- to posttreatment, as well as 6-month follow-up. For most participants decreases were both clinically significant and reliable changes. Further, participants reported significant reductions in anger and improvement in perceived social support and quality of life. Limitations of the study include a lack of control group, a limitation of most naturalistic studies, as well as small sample size. Despite this, the findings indicate that utilizing psychiatric service dogs, coupled with an intensive trauma resilience training program for veterans with ongoing symptoms, is feasible as a complementary treatment for PTSD that could yield beneficial results in terms of symptom amelioration and improvement to overall quality of life. (PsycINFO Database Record
本研究探讨了一项为期3周的强化训练计划以及为与军事相关的创伤后应激障碍（PTSD）及相关症状使用精神科服务犬的情况。样本包括2个独立队列的已确诊PTSD的退伍军人（n = 7和n = 5）。参与者在训练前1个月（基线）、抵达训练地点时以及6个月随访时完成了评估PTSD、抑郁、社会支持感知、愤怒和总体生活质量的自我报告测量。结果表明，对于该样本，从治疗前到治疗后以及6个月随访时，PTSD和抑郁症状在统计学上有显著下降。对大多数参与者来说，这些下降在临床上具有显著意义且是可靠的变化。此外，参与者报告愤怒显著减少，感知到的社会支持和生活质量有所改善。该研究的局限性包括缺乏对照组，这是大多数自然主义研究的一个局限，以及样本量小。尽管如此，研究结果表明，对于有持续症状的退伍军人，使用精神科服务犬并结合强化的创伤复原力训练计划，作为PTSD的一种补充治疗是可行的，在症状改善和总体生活质量提高方面可能会产生有益的结果。（PsycINFO数据库记录）
