Integrating Animal-Assisted Interventions in United States Veterans With Self-Reported Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Although the use of animals as therapeutic interventions is becoming more popular in treating veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), there is still a gap in research regarding its effects. The existing PTSD treatment guidelines display a neutral position when discussing alternative and complimentary therapy options. The evidence suggests that animals can be beneficial for improving symptoms as well as important to the management and recovery of veterans with PTSD. Pharmacotherapy and cognitive behavioral therapy are considered the gold standard for treatment. This pilot study focuses on a community outpatient support group of United States veterans with self-reported PTSD symptoms and the impact of therapy animals on PTSD symptoms over 3 months. The Johns Hopkins Nursing Evidence-Based Practice Model was used to guide the development and implementation of this project. For this pilot study, the format of meetings was changed to allow certified therapy animals into each monthly meeting. Over a 3-month period, data before and after the animal intervention were collected. Sample size varied each month, depending on the number of veterans who attended the meeting. An average of 8 participants attended each meeting. Results showed the participants' PTSD symptoms were improved after interacting with the animals; however, no statistical significance was found. Furthermore, it is suggested that health care providers and those treating patients with PTSD become aware of the use of certified therapy animals as complementary and/or alternative therapy in treatment for the veteran population. (c) 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.