The impacts of canine-assisted therapy on combat Veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder
Abstract: The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of canine-assisted therapy (CAT) on combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) by conducting a systematic literature review with qualitative analysis. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) framework was used to establish criteria for selecting relevant peer-reviewed research articles as the primary source of information for the review. NVivo 14 software was employed to create categorical themes and facilitate the comprehensive analysis of qualitative and quantitative data, resulting in the development of a systematic literature review. A sample of 19 articles was selected from 88 articles obtained from various library and Internet databases. The formulation of research questions facilitated an in-depth examination of the effects of CAT and similar therapies on combat-related PTSD, focusing on the extent to which these alternative treatment methods have contributed to symptom improvement. Multiple studies have found evidence supporting the positive effects of pairing veterans with service dogs. These studies show veterans experience a decrease in perceived stress and symptoms related to traumatic stress when they have a service dog. Service dogs also help veterans feel less isolated and encourage them to engage more socially. Service dogs contribute to a reduction in symptoms of PTSD and lower suicide ideation. Additionally, service dogs play a significant role in alerting and waking veterans from nightmares, as well as proactively disrupting symptoms associated with repeated trauma.