Assistance dogs help not only veterans with PTSD, but also their partners

Assistance dogs appear to positively change the lives of veterans with therapy-resistant PTSD. In addition, the partners of veterans experience a higher quality of relationship. The dogs themselves do not seem to experience any stress from their work. PhD candidate Ilse de Lange (MSc) is researching the influence of assistance dogs on veterans with PTSD and their families, and presented the preliminary results.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is the result of one or more highly stressful or traumatic events. Common symptoms include nightmares, anxiety, and depression, which can have a very negative impact on a person's life and that of their loved ones. Veterans, police officers, and other uniformed personnel can develop PTSD in the course of their work. 

Broader family situation

Assistance dogs have been used for years to help veterans with PTSD. Three years ago, Emmy van Houtert concluded that an assistance dog improves the lives of veterans with PTSD and that the dogs themselves do not seem to experience any stress from their work. De Lange continued this research and also involved the partners and children of veterans with PTSD to see whether they too had noticed any noticeable differences in their relationships since the introduction of an assistance dog into the home. In addition, other parameters were included in the study, such as heart rate data and saliva data from which the stress hormone cortisol was measured. In doing so, De Lange broadened the previous research to form an even better picture of the interaction between veteran, family, and assistance dog.

Physical and emotional benefits 

The study shows that veterans with assistance dogs feel better in various ways than veterans without assistance dogs: they experience fewer negative thoughts and mood complaints, are more satisfied with their relationships, and feel less physically and emotionally limited in their daily lives. They also function better in social situations and sleep better: they stay in bed longer, sleep more deeply, and wake up less often. It is not only the veterans who benefit; their partners also report being more satisfied with their relationship and functioning better socially than partners of veterans without assistance dogs. So far, the study has not found any differences between children of veterans with and without assistance dogs.

Preliminary results

On November 13, an interim evaluation of the project took place, during which De Lange shared the preliminary results. A large number of the veterans involved were present. De Lange: “It's impressive to see how much difference an assistance dog can make,” says the researcher. “Not only does the dog help the veteran to cope better with stress and sleep problems, but it also seems to strengthen relationships within the family. This shows that the positive impact of an assistance dog extends beyond the veteran himself.”

It is still too early to draw fully validated conclusions. Some data is still being examined at another laboratory abroad. De Lange: “These initial results are promising. We are seeing clear improvements in veterans with assistance dogs, both in their daily functioning and in their relationships. At the same time, it is important to remain cautious: the final data will be available soon, and only then can we draw definitive conclusions about the effect of assistance dogs on veterans with PTSD."

De Lange will obtain his PhD on this subject next year.