Can a Canine Companion Modify Cardiac Autonomic Reactivity and Tone in PTSD

Abstract

Planned data acquisition continues documenting the impact of a Service Animal Training Intervention on U.S. Military Veterens in treatment for chronic severe PTSD. Enrollment has been slower than planned; however, we are on track to accrue 80% of our planned intensive and non-dog completers due to extension of the recruitment period and lower than expected withdrawals. To summarize across published and preliminary results, canine companionship is associated with improved subjective mood, modification of attentional bias away from negative and toward positive stimuli, attenuated defense responses, and modest reductions in waking heart rate. To date, effects on sleep have not been observed.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 2018
Accession Number
AD1048151

Entities

People

  • Steven H Woodward

Organizations

  • Palo Alto Veterans Institute for Research

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Abstracts
  • Acquisition
  • Animal Training
  • Biomedical Research
  • Cardiac Arrhythmias
  • Cognition
  • Data Acquisition
  • Data Processing
  • Diseases And Disorders
  • Heart Rate
  • Intervention
  • Local Governments
  • Professional Development
  • Reactivities
  • Regulations
  • Service Dogs
  • Training

Readers

  • Brain and Cognitive Science; Experimental Psychology; Cognitive Neuroscience
  • Defense Acquisition Program Management
  • Psychological Intervention/Treatment for Stress, Anxiety, PTSD, and Related Emotional and Cognitive Health Symptoms.