Abraham Preetha A, Kazman Josh B, Bonner Joshua A, Olmert Meg D, Yount Rick A, Deuster Patricia A
Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
Mil Psychol. 2021 Nov 19;34(2):187-196. doi: 10.1080/08995605.2021.1984126. eCollection 2022.
This pilot-feasibility randomized control trial examined effects of an adjunctive short-term service dog training program (SDTP) for service members in out-patient treatment for PTSD. Twenty-nine volunteer participants were randomly assigned to either the SDTP (n = 12) or waitlist (n = 17); 20 participants were available for post-treatment evaluation. SDTP protocol consisted of six structured one-hour sessions with a dog-trainer conducted over two weeks, intended to train a service dog to help a fellow Veteran. SMs completed symptom questionnaires (PTSD, insomnia, stress, depression, anxiety), and the SDTP group completed a post-intervention quantitative interview. Most effect sizes demonstrated moderate symptom reductions, both between-groups and within the SDTP group. Between-group effects were strongest for intrusive thoughts (Hedge's = -0.66; 95%CI: -1.72, 0.23) and overall PTSD symptoms ( = -0.45; 95%CI: -1.47, 0.45); within-SDTP group effects were strongest for stress ( = -1.31, 95%CI: -2.17, -0.42), intrusive thoughts ( = -0.78, 95%CI: -1.55, 0.01) and hypervigilance ( = -0.77, 95%CI: -1.48, -0.04). Qualitative analyses indicated participants found SDTP in some ways challenging yet beneficial in multiple aspects of personal and social lives. Future work should examine optimal treatment parameters (e.g., duration, "dosing") when training dogs as an adjunct to other PTSD treatment.
这项初步可行性随机对照试验研究了一项辅助短期服务犬训练计划（SDTP）对门诊治疗创伤后应激障碍（PTSD）的军人的影响。29名志愿者参与者被随机分配到SDTP组（n = 12）或候补名单组（n = 17）；20名参与者可进行治疗后评估。SDTP方案包括在两周内与一名训犬师进行六次结构化的一小时课程，旨在训练一只服务犬来帮助一名退伍军人同伴。参与者完成了症状问卷（PTSD、失眠、压力、抑郁、焦虑），SDTP组完成了干预后的定量访谈。大多数效应量表明，组间和SDTP组内的症状都有中度减轻。组间效应在侵入性思维（Hedge's = -0.66；95%CI：-1.72，0.23）和总体PTSD症状（ = -0.45；95%CI：-1.47，0.45）方面最为显著；SDTP组内效应在压力（ = -1.31，95%CI：-2.17，-0.42）、侵入性思维（ = -0.78，95%CI：-1.55，0.01）和过度警觉（ = -0.77，95%CI：-1.48，-0.04）方面最为显著。定性分析表明，参与者发现SDTP在某些方面具有挑战性，但在个人和社会生活的多个方面都有益处。未来的工作应该研究在将训练犬作为其他PTSD治疗的辅助手段时的最佳治疗参数（例如，持续时间、“剂量”）。
