Military Review English Edition November December 2016 | Page 94

reaction (ASR). However, the diagnostic criteria for
those interventions fail to work for many patients, their
PTSD require thirty days to have passed after a traubenefits are often temporary, and they can entail bad side
matic event, and intervention is often delayed until
effects or stigma.4 Therefore, an alternative option that
2
that point. This raises the question of whether PTSD
would effectively mitigate PTSD in earlier stages of its
treatment would be more effective if begun on day zero,
development would be a better solution for those with
rather than on day thirty or later. Doing this would rePTSD and would greatly reduce the overall cost of treatquire a treatment that is both benign and effective.
ments currently borne by the taxpayer.
There is growing evidence that contact with dogs is
useful in treating PTSD. In addition, there is anecdotal
The Problem
evidence that dogs are helpful during diagnosis and
The American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic
later in patient compliance to recommended treatand Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5)
ment. Thus,
defines PTSD
the use of dogs
as a disturbance
could meet the
triggered by “excriteria needed
posure to actual or
for a day-zero
threatened death,
intervention.
serious injury, or
The hysexual violation …
pothesis
The disturbance,
that dogs are
regardless of its
therapeutitrigger, causes
cally useful is
clinically signifbeing tested
icant distress or
in a large U.S.
impairment in the
Department
individual’s social
of Veterans
interactions, caAffairs (VA)
pacity to work, or
study.3 If
other important
A therapy dog with the 219th Medical Detachment (Combat Operational Stress Control)
named
Maj.
Butch
concludes
her
tour
interacting
with
service
members
1
February
2013
in
this shows a
areas of functionAfghanistan at Bagram Air Field. (Photo by Maj. Charles Patterson, U.S. Army)
positive effect,
ing.”5 The DSM-5
the research
lists common
should be extended into the efficacy of treating those
symptoms of PTSD as intrusive recollection, guilt, and
diagnosed with the possibility of PTSD from day
inability to cope or function, often resulting in behavzero. The study of dogs in deployed units should
iors such as recklessness, aggression, depression, and
assess their impact on the rates and intensity of ASR, substance abuse.6
the rates of ASR conversion to PTSD, and the intenPTSD was reported in 10–30 percent of wartime
sity of the resulting PTSD, as well as any effect dogs
service members (varying by conflict and measurement
have on relapse rates.
technique).7 The RAND Corporation study of the costs
The stakes are high. PTSD results in high medical
of PTSD care for veterans showed that of the 1.6 milcosts while on active duty, premature reassignment statelion service members returning in 2005, approximately
side or retirement, and difficulty transitioning to civilian
7.5 percent had PTSD, and approximately another 7.5
life. Moreover, for the U.S. taxpayer, the costs of medical
percent had PTSD as well as major depression.8
care in support of veterans extend well beyond their sepaThe RAND study modeled the cost per person
ration from service.
during the first two years after being diagnosed with
As indicated in a RAND Corporation study, PTSD
PTSD. The model included treatment costs and costs
is now mainly treated with a combination of pharrelated to lost productivity from reduced employment
macological and behavioral interventions. However,
and lower earnings, but not monetary costs relating to
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November-December 2016  MILITARY REVIEW