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Emerging evidence suggests that veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) benefit from having a service dog. These trained dogs perform behaviors that interrupt flashbacks, apply deep pressure to lower heightened anxiety levels, and wake owners who are having nightmares. However, the few studies showing positive results have not been replicated; also, they were based on DSM-IV criteria. The current investigators used DSM-5 criteria in a cross-sectional comparison of 112 veterans who received a PTSD service dog (length of ownership, 2 weeks–7 years) and 74 veterans waiting to receive one (74% men; mean age, 40).
Except for a higher percentage of men in the ownership group, the two groups had similar demographics (married or cohabiti…