McCall Christine E, Rodriguez Kerri E, Wadsworth Shelley M MacDermid, Meis Laura A, O'Haire Marguerite E
Military Family Research Institute, Department of Human Development and Family Studies, College of Health and Human Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana.
Center for the Human-Animal Bond, Department of Comparative Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana.
Mil Behav Health. 2020;8(4):410-423. doi: 10.1080/21635781.2020.1825243. Epub 2020 Oct 14.
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can have corrosive impacts on family relationships and individual functioning. Emerging evidence has shown that psychiatric service dogs may be an effective complementary treatment for military veterans with PTSD, benefiting veterans' mental and social health. However, few studies have examined the effects of psychiatric service dogs on the family members of veterans, specifically their partners. Mixed-methods data from 60 veteran-partner dyads examined individual and relationship functioning among partners of veterans paired with a service dog (service dog group; = 37) and those awaiting placement (waitlist group; = 23). While there were no statistically significant differences across groups, the effect sizes for group differences suggested that partners in the service dog group (relative to those on the waitlist) may experience higher levels of resilience and companionship, and lower levels of anger, social isolation, and work impairment. A topical survey of partner qualitative data within the service dog group indicated that service dogs provided more benefits than challenges. Partners reported improvements in veteran functioning, family relationships, and partners' quality of life. Results, although preliminary, suggest that psychiatric service dogs may provide modest positive experiences for some veteran family systems.
创伤后应激障碍（PTSD）会对家庭关系和个人机能产生侵蚀性影响。新出现的证据表明，精神科服务犬可能是治疗患有创伤后应激障碍的退伍军人的一种有效辅助疗法，对退伍军人的心理和社会健康有益。然而，很少有研究考察精神科服务犬对退伍军人家庭成员，特别是其伴侣的影响。来自60对退伍军人-伴侣二元组的混合方法数据，考察了与服务犬配对的退伍军人的伴侣（服务犬组；n = 37）和等待安置的退伍军人的伴侣（候补名单组；n = 23）的个人及关系机能。虽然各组之间没有统计学上的显著差异，但组间差异的效应大小表明，服务犬组的伴侣（相对于候补名单组的伴侣）可能具有更高水平的恢复力和陪伴感，以及更低水平的愤怒、社会隔离和工作障碍。对服务犬组内伴侣定性数据的专题调查表明，服务犬带来的益处多于挑战。伴侣们报告说，退伍军人的机能、家庭关系和伴侣的生活质量都有所改善。尽管结果是初步的，但表明精神科服务犬可能会给一些退伍军人家庭系统带来适度的积极体验。
