Dog ownership and PTSD
Research type
Research Study
Full title
How do individuals with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) experience dog ownership in relation to their recovery?
IRAS ID
146407
Contact name
Catherine Wikholm
Contact email
Research summary
How do individuals with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) experience dog ownership in relation to their recovery?
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a trauma- and stress-related disorder that may develop after a person experiences an exceptionally threatening or distressing event. In the USA, the use of specially trained dogs in an assistance or emotional support capacity with military veterans with PTSD has become widely accepted, with similar organisations now existing in the UK, which seek to train dogs to perform tasks aimed at helping their owners manage their symptoms. Charities such as Pets as Therapy exist to improve the well-being of hospital patients through providing visits using volunteers’ own pets as therapy dogs.
There is a considerable body of anecdotal evidence that attests to the therapeutic benefits of animal assisted therapy (AAT) or pet ownership with regard to PTSD, particularly with regard to dogs, however, there is currently little validation evidence (Fine, 2010). That which does exist is promising; the anxiolytic effect of even brief interaction with a dog has been demonstrated in several good quality studies (e.g. Cole, Gawlinkski, Steers & Kotlerman, 2007), and two recent studies have provided preliminary evidence that dog-assisted therapy leads to a significant reduction in PTSD symptoms (Hamama et al, 2011; Dietz, Davis & Pennings, 2012).
As well as a current lack of quantitative research into this area, there is also a lack of qualitative literature. This study addresses an under-researched area and seeks to gain insights into how individuals with PTSD experience the role of their dog and how they may naturalistically use their dog to support their recovery.
Data will be gathered through individuals interviews with 6-8 participants, who will be recruited through the Traumatic Stress Service, Springfield Hospital. Interviews will be recorded, the data transcribed, and analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA).
REC name
West of Scotland REC 3
REC reference
14/WS/1016
Date of REC Opinion
27 Jun 2014
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion