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Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), an invisible wound of war, affects approximately 20%1 of the 18.5 million U.S. veterans and places them at higher risk for impaired biopsychosocial functioning. PTSD symptom severity (PTSDSS) is significantly correlated with stress and psychosocial consequences of inability to regulate emotions, control impulsive behaviors, and function within family and society. Alarming veteran PTSD rates and its insidious effects demand empirically validated treatment programs. More than a million veterans receive new diagnoses of each year. VA PTSD therapy programs reach only 1% of veterans. Nearly 35% of veterans do not respond to widely used psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy treatments. Training a service dog (SD) is a novel rehabilitative animal-assisted intervention that shows promise in other populations. This project evaluates the efficacy of a service dog training program (SDTP) as an alternative and adjunctive treatment and rehabilitative option for veterans with PTSD.
Veterans with PTSD attend 8 weekly sessions of either training a service dog or learning about how to train a dog at the Warrior Canine Connection facility in Boyds MD. They complete questionnaires prior to the start of the program and at the midpoint (after 4 sessions) and end of the program (after 8 sessions). Participants also wear a monitor to record heart rate variability during the 1st, 4th, and 8th sessions and provide saliva samples at these same times.
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| Label | Type | Description | Intervention Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service Dog Training Program (SDTP) | Experimental | Veterans randomized to the SDTP will be paired with an experienced Warrior Canine Connection (WCC) Mission Based Trauma Recovery (MBTR)-Trainer (MBRT-T) and a service dog (SD). One hour training modules will be scheduled once a week for 8 weeks. Participants will come to WCC for all the weekly training modules. Participants will be paired with the same SD for the duration of the SDTP unless an unforeseen circumstance arises and the SD needs to be removed from the SDTP. The MBTR-T will deliver the prescribed SDTP modules created by WCC. Each session will be fully supervised by a WCC MBTR-T to address any concerns or safety issues that may arise. |
|
| Dog Training Education | Other | Veterans randomized to Dog Training Education will participate in one hour online SD training modules (https://e-trainingfordogs.com) scheduled once a week for 8 weeks. The online training modules are delivered by experienced SD trainers and will employ parallel content to the WCC SDTP. Participants will come to the WCC site for all the weekly online training modules. Members of the WLCI group will have education about dog training, but NO interaction with a SD. The online training modules for the DTE group are intended to keep the veterans who are not immediately assigned to the SDTP engaged in the study. They will participate in the SDTP after conclusion of participation in the 8 week study. |
|
| Name | Type | Description | Arm Group Labels | Other Names |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Dog Training Program | Behavioral | Participate in 8 weekly dog training sessions using a positive reinforcement method and curriculum under the direct supervision of trainer at the Warrior Canine Connection facility in Boyds (Montgomery County) MD. |
| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Post Traumatic Stress Symptom Severity | Post traumatic stress disorder checklist for DSM-5 range of scores 0-80; higher score is worse (more PTSD) | Baseline, 8 weeks |
| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Stress Biomarker Markers:Cortisol | salivary cortisol ug/dL; higher is more stress | Baseline, 8 weeks |
| Stress Biomarkers: Alpha Amylase | salivary alpha amylase U/mL; higher is more stress |
| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Cellular Aging | total telomere length (kilobase pairs, from saliva sample) longer telomere length is less cellular aging | Baseline, 8 weeks |
Inclusion Criteria
Accepted into the Warrior Canine Connection Service Dog Training Program. Their inclusion criteria are:
Military Veteran
Exclusion Criteria:
Excluded from the Warrior Canine Connection Service Dog Training Program. Their criteria are:
fear of dogs; allergy to pet dander; active substance abuse; active psychosis, history of animal abuse or physically unable to complete tasks required to train dogs
.
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| Name | Affiliation | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Erika Friedmann, PhD | University of Maryland, Baltimore | Principal Investigator |
| Facility | Status | City | State | ZIP | Country | Contacts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Warrior Canine Connections | Boyds | Maryland | 20841 | United States |
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| ID | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|
| FG000 | Service Dog Training Program (SDTP) | Veterans randomized to the SDTP will be paired with an experienced Warrior Canine Connection (WCC) Mission Based Trauma Recovery (MBTR)-Trainer (MBRT-T) and a service dog (SD). One hour training modules will be scheduled once a week for 8 weeks. Participants will come to WCC for all the weekly training modules. Participants will be paired with the same SD for the duration of the SDTP unless an unforeseen circumstance arises and the SD needs to be removed from the SDTP. The MBTR-T will deliver the prescribed SDTP modules created by WCC. Each session will be fully supervised by a WCC MBTR-T to address any concerns or safety issues that may arise. Service Dog Training Program: Participate in 8 weekly dog training sessions using a positive reinforcement method and curriculum under the direct supervision of trainer at the Warrior Canine Connection facility in Boyds (Montgomery County) MD. |
| FG001 | Dog Training Education | Veterans randomized to Dog Training Education will participate in one hour online SD training modules (https://e-trainingfordogs.com) scheduled once a week for 8 weeks. The online training modules are delivered by experienced SD trainers and will employ parallel content to the WCC SDTP. Participants will come to the WCC site for all the weekly online training modules. Members of the WLCI group will have education about dog training, but NO interaction with a SD. The online training modules for the DTE group are intended to keep the veterans who are not immediately assigned to the SDTP engaged in the study. They will participate in the SDTP after conclusion of participation in the 8 week study. Dog Training Education: Learn about training dogs by watching 8 weekly dog training online modules programs at the Warrior Canine Connection facility in Boyds (Montgomery County) MD. After completing this education the participants will participate in the service dog training program. |
| Title | Milestones | Reasons Not Completed | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Study |
|
|
One participant in the dog training education group no longer met inclusion criteria at first visit and was removed from the study
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| ID | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|
| BG000 | Service Dog Training Program (SDTP) | Veterans randomized to the SDTP will be paired with an experienced Warrior Canine Connection (WCC) Mission Based Trauma Recovery (MBTR)-Trainer (MBRT-T) and a service dog (SD). One hour training modules will be scheduled once a week for 8 weeks. Participants will come to WCC for all the weekly training modules. Participants will be paired with the same SD for the duration of the SDTP unless an unforeseen circumstance arises and the SD needs to be removed from the SDTP. The MBTR-T will deliver the prescribed SDTP modules created by WCC. Each session will be fully supervised by a WCC MBTR-T to address any concerns or safety issues that may arise. Service Dog Training Program: Participate in 8 weekly dog training sessions using a positive reinforcement method and curriculum under the direct supervision of trainer at the Warrior Canine Connection facility in Boyds (Montgomery County) MD. |
| Units | Counts |
|---|---|
| Participants |
|
| Title | Description | Population Description | Parameter Type | Dispersion Type | Unit of Measure | Calculate Percentage | Denominator Units Selected | Denominators | Classes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age, Categorical | Count of Participants |
| Type | Title | Description | Population Description | Reporting Status | Anticipated Posting Date | Parameter Type | Dispersion Type | Unit of Measure | Calculate Percentage | Time Frame | Units Analyzed | Denominator Units Selected | Arm/Group Information | Denominators | Classes | Analyses | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Primary | Post Traumatic Stress Symptom Severity | Post traumatic stress disorder checklist for DSM-5 range of scores 0-80; higher score is worse (more PTSD) | Veterans with PTSD | Posted | Mean | Standard Error | score on a scale | Baseline, 8 weeks |
|
8 weeks
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| ID | Title | Description | Deaths (Affected) | Deaths (At Risk) | Serious Events (Affected) | Serious Events (At Risk) | Other Events (Affected) | Other Events (At Risk) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EG000 | Service Dog Training Program (SDTP) | Veterans randomized to the SDTP will be paired with an experienced Warrior Canine Connection (WCC) Mission Based Trauma Recovery (MBTR)-Trainer (MBRT-T) and a service dog (SD). One hour training modules will be scheduled once a week for 8 weeks. Participants will come to WCC for all the weekly training modules. Participants will be paired with the same SD for the duration of the SDTP unless an unforeseen circumstance arises and the SD needs to be removed from the SDTP. The MBTR-T will deliver the prescribed SDTP modules created by WCC. Each session will be fully supervised by a WCC MBTR-T to address any concerns or safety issues that may arise. Service Dog Training Program: Participate in 8 weekly dog training sessions using a positive reinforcement method and curriculum under the direct supervision of trainer at the Warrior Canine Connection facility in Boyds (Montgomery County) MD. |
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| Title | Organization | Phone | Extension | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dr. Erika Friedmann | University of Maryland School of Nursing | 410 706 0659 | friedmann@umaryland.edu |
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| Type | Includes Protocol | Includes SAP | Includes ICF | Document Label | Document Date | Document Uploaded Date | Document File Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prot_SAP | Yes | Yes | No | Study Protocol and Statistical Analysis Plan | May 30, 2023 | Feb 8, 2024 | Prot_SAP_000.pdf |
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| ID | Term |
|---|---|
| D013313 | Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic |
| D000081762 | Human-Animal Interaction |
| ID | Term |
|---|---|
| D040921 | Stress Disorders, Traumatic |
| D000068099 | Trauma and Stressor Related Disorders |
| D001523 | Mental Disorders |
| D001519 | Behavior |
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| Dog Training Education | Other | Learn about training dogs by watching 8 weekly dog training online modules programs at the Warrior Canine Connection facility in Boyds (Montgomery County) MD. After completing this education the participants will participate in the service dog training program. |
|
| Baseline, 8 weeks |
| Stress Biomarkers: IgA | salivary immunoglobulin A μg/mL; higher is less stress | Baseline, 8 weeks |
| Stress Biomarkers: HRV | Heart rate variability Polar H7 heart rate sensor worn around the chest and matching Polar V800 GPS Sports Watch, higher is better | baseline, 8 weeks |
| Stress Marker: Perceived Stress | Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Perceived Stress; PROMIS PS, score range 10 to 50, T scores range from 22.7 to 87.1, higher is more stress perceived | Baseline, 8 weeks |
| Psychosocial Health: Positive Affect | PROMIS Positive Affect Short Form 15 (PA 152), raw scores range from 15 to 75 they are converted to T scores range of 14.4 to 69.9 with a mean of 50 and SD or 10, higher is greater positive affect | Baseline, 8 weeks |
| Psychosocial Health: Health Related Quality of Life | Veterans RAND 12 Item Health Survey (VR-12); physical health and mental health subscales; scales are calculated with an algorithm with a mean of 50 as the 50th percentile of the U.S. population; higher score is better (higher quality of life). | Baseline, 8 weeks |
| Psychosocial Health: Resilience | Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC-10), scores range from 0 to 40, higher score is more resilient | Baseline, 8 weeks |
| Psychosocial Health: Relationship With Friends and Family | Relationship Scale Questionnaire (RSQ) , 4 subscales are created from average of items: Secure scale is the average of 3, 9(Reverse),10, 15, 28(Reverse). Fearful scale is the average of 1, 5, 12, 24. Preoccupied scale is the average of 6(Reverse), 8, 16, 25. Dismissing scale is the average of 2, 6, 19, 22, 26. Subscale scores range from 1 to 5. Higher scores are poorer relationships | Baseline, 8 weeks |
| Psychosocial Health: Quality of Individual's Relationships | PROMIS Satisfaction with Social Roles and Activities (SSRA)-Short Form 4a (PROMIS-SSRA), raw scores range from 4 to 20, T scores range from 27.9 to 63.8, higher score is more satisfaction | Baseline, 8 weeks |
| Psychosocial Health: Satisfaction With Social Activities | PROMIS Short Form v1.0- Satisfaction with Participation in Discretionary Social Activities- Short Form 7a (PROMIS SPDSA) raw scores range from 7 to 35, T scores range from 28.7 to 67.3, higher score is more satisfaction | Baseline, 8 weeks |
| Psychosocial Health: Companionship | PROMIS Companionship - Short Form 4a (PROMIS-C) raw scores range from 4 to 20, T scores range from 25.2 to 65.3, higher score is more companionship | Baseline, 8 weeks |
| Psychosocial Health:Depression | PROMIS Depression Short-Form 8a (PROMIS-D), raw scores range from 8 to 40, T scores range from 0-100, higher score is more depression | baseline, 8 weeks |
| Psychosocial Health: Anxiety | PROMIS Anxiety Short-Form 8a (PROMIS-A) raw scores range from 8 to 40, T scores range from 0-100, higher score is more anxiety | baseline, 8 weeks |
| Psychosocial Health: Suicidal Ideation | Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation (BSSI), raw scores range from 0 to 38, higher score is greater suicidal ideation | Baseline, 8 weeks |
| BG001 | Dog Training Education | Veterans randomized to Dog Training Education will participate in one hour online SD training modules (https://e-trainingfordogs.com) scheduled once a week for 8 weeks. The online training modules are delivered by experienced SD trainers and will employ parallel content to the WCC SDTP. Participants will come to the WCC site for all the weekly online training modules. Members of the WLCI group will have education about dog training, but NO interaction with a SD. The online training modules for the DTE group are intended to keep the veterans who are not immediately assigned to the SDTP engaged in the study. They will participate in the SDTP after conclusion of participation in the 8 week study. Dog Training Education: Learn about training dogs by watching 8 weekly dog training online modules programs at the Warrior Canine Connection facility in Boyds (Montgomery County) MD. After completing this education the participants will participate in the service dog training program. |
| BG002 | Total | Total of all reporting groups |
| Participants |
|
| Age, Continuous | Mean | Standard Deviation | years |
|
| Sex: Female, Male | Count of Participants | Participants |
|
| Ethnicity (NIH/OMB) | Count of Participants | Participants |
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| Race (NIH/OMB) | Count of Participants | Participants |
|
| Region of Enrollment | Number | participants |
|
| OG001 | Dog Training Education | Veterans randomized to Dog Training Education will participate in one hour online SD training modules (https://e-trainingfordogs.com) scheduled once a week for 8 weeks. The online training modules are delivered by experienced SD trainers and will employ parallel content to the WCC SDTP. Participants will come to the WCC site for all the weekly online training modules. Members of the WLCI group will have education about dog training, but NO interaction with a SD. The online training modules for the DTE group are intended to keep the veterans who are not immediately assigned to the SDTP engaged in the study. They will participate in the SDTP after conclusion of participation in the 8 week study. Dog Training Education: Learn about training dogs by watching 8 weekly dog training online modules programs at the Warrior Canine Connection facility in Boyds (Montgomery County) MD. After completing this education the participants will participate in the service dog training program. |
|
|
| Secondary | Stress Biomarker Markers:Cortisol | salivary cortisol ug/dL; higher is more stress | Not Posted | Baseline, 8 weeks | Participants |
| Secondary | Stress Biomarkers: Alpha Amylase | salivary alpha amylase U/mL; higher is more stress | Not Posted | Baseline, 8 weeks | Participants |
| Secondary | Stress Biomarkers: IgA | salivary immunoglobulin A μg/mL; higher is less stress | Not Posted | Baseline, 8 weeks | Participants |
| Secondary | Stress Biomarkers: HRV | Heart rate variability Polar H7 heart rate sensor worn around the chest and matching Polar V800 GPS Sports Watch, higher is better | Not Posted | baseline, 8 weeks | Participants |
| Secondary | Stress Marker: Perceived Stress | Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Perceived Stress; PROMIS PS, score range 10 to 50, T scores range from 22.7 to 87.1, higher is more stress perceived | Not Posted | Baseline, 8 weeks | Participants |
| Secondary | Psychosocial Health: Positive Affect | PROMIS Positive Affect Short Form 15 (PA 152), raw scores range from 15 to 75 they are converted to T scores range of 14.4 to 69.9 with a mean of 50 and SD or 10, higher is greater positive affect | Not Posted | Baseline, 8 weeks | Participants |
| Secondary | Psychosocial Health: Health Related Quality of Life | Veterans RAND 12 Item Health Survey (VR-12); physical health and mental health subscales; scales are calculated with an algorithm with a mean of 50 as the 50th percentile of the U.S. population; higher score is better (higher quality of life). | Not Posted | Baseline, 8 weeks | Participants |
| Secondary | Psychosocial Health: Resilience | Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC-10), scores range from 0 to 40, higher score is more resilient | Not Posted | Baseline, 8 weeks | Participants |
| Secondary | Psychosocial Health: Relationship With Friends and Family | Relationship Scale Questionnaire (RSQ) , 4 subscales are created from average of items: Secure scale is the average of 3, 9(Reverse),10, 15, 28(Reverse). Fearful scale is the average of 1, 5, 12, 24. Preoccupied scale is the average of 6(Reverse), 8, 16, 25. Dismissing scale is the average of 2, 6, 19, 22, 26. Subscale scores range from 1 to 5. Higher scores are poorer relationships | Not Posted | Baseline, 8 weeks | Participants |
| Secondary | Psychosocial Health: Quality of Individual's Relationships | PROMIS Satisfaction with Social Roles and Activities (SSRA)-Short Form 4a (PROMIS-SSRA), raw scores range from 4 to 20, T scores range from 27.9 to 63.8, higher score is more satisfaction | Not Posted | Baseline, 8 weeks | Participants |
| Secondary | Psychosocial Health: Satisfaction With Social Activities | PROMIS Short Form v1.0- Satisfaction with Participation in Discretionary Social Activities- Short Form 7a (PROMIS SPDSA) raw scores range from 7 to 35, T scores range from 28.7 to 67.3, higher score is more satisfaction | Not Posted | Baseline, 8 weeks | Participants |
| Secondary | Psychosocial Health: Companionship | PROMIS Companionship - Short Form 4a (PROMIS-C) raw scores range from 4 to 20, T scores range from 25.2 to 65.3, higher score is more companionship | Not Posted | Baseline, 8 weeks | Participants |
| Secondary | Psychosocial Health:Depression | PROMIS Depression Short-Form 8a (PROMIS-D), raw scores range from 8 to 40, T scores range from 0-100, higher score is more depression | Not Posted | baseline, 8 weeks | Participants |
| Secondary | Psychosocial Health: Anxiety | PROMIS Anxiety Short-Form 8a (PROMIS-A) raw scores range from 8 to 40, T scores range from 0-100, higher score is more anxiety | Not Posted | baseline, 8 weeks | Participants |
| Secondary | Psychosocial Health: Suicidal Ideation | Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation (BSSI), raw scores range from 0 to 38, higher score is greater suicidal ideation | Not Posted | Baseline, 8 weeks | Participants |
| Other Pre-specified | Cellular Aging | total telomere length (kilobase pairs, from saliva sample) longer telomere length is less cellular aging | Not Posted | Baseline, 8 weeks | Participants |
| 0 |
| 30 |
| 0 |
| 30 |
| 0 |
| 30 |
| EG001 | Dog Training Education | Veterans randomized to Dog Training Education will participate in one hour online SD training modules (https://e-trainingfordogs.com) scheduled once a week for 8 weeks. The online training modules are delivered by experienced SD trainers and will employ parallel content to the WCC SDTP. Participants will come to the WCC site for all the weekly online training modules. Members of the WLCI group will have education about dog training, but NO interaction with a SD. The online training modules for the DTE group are intended to keep the veterans who are not immediately assigned to the SDTP engaged in the study. They will participate in the SDTP after conclusion of participation in the 8 week study. Dog Training Education: Learn about training dogs by watching 8 weekly dog training online modules programs at the Warrior Canine Connection facility in Boyds (Montgomery County) MD. After completing this education the participants will participate in the service dog training program. | 0 | 30 | 0 | 30 | 0 | 30 |
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