A Study of Dog Adoption in Veterans With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) (VITAL)

• PTSD Stressor Specific Version (PCL-S) [ Time Frame: Phone screen, baseline, and 1-month, 3-month, 4-month, and 6-month follow-up visits. The 4-month follow-up will be conducted only for subjects in the wait-list control group. ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  The PCL-S is a 17-item self-report measure that asks about the DSM-IV symptoms of PTSD in relation to an identified stressful experience.
  
  

• PTSD Symptom Scale - Interview (PSS-I) [ Time Frame: The PSS-I will be administered at the baseline, 3-month, and 6-month visits. ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  The PSS-I is a 17-item semi-structured interview that assesses the presence and severity of DSM-IV PTSD symptoms related to a single identified traumatic event in individuals with a known trauma history.
  
  
• Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT-C) [ Time Frame: Baseline and 1-month, 3-month, 4-month, and 6-month follow-ups ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  Self-rating scale that assesses the frequency and extent of alcohol use
  
  
• Animal-Veteran Interaction Questionnaire [ Time Frame: Baseline and 1-month, 3-month, 4-month, and 6-month follow-ups ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  Inquires about various aspects of subjects' interactions with their dog
  
  
• Beck Depression Inventory - II (BDI-II) [ Time Frame: Baseline and 1-month, 3-month, 4-month, and 6-month follow-up ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  Self-rating scale that assesses the frequency and severity of common symptoms of depression
  
  
• Community Integration Questionnaire (CIQ) [ Time Frame: Baseline and 3-month and 6-month follow-up visits ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  Self-rating scale that assesses the extent of a subject's integration into her or his community
  
  
• MINI International Neuropsychiatric Inventory (MINI) [ Time Frame: Baseline ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  Semi-structured interview used to assess the presence of 15 common DSM-IV psychiatric diagnoses.
  
  
• Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) [ Time Frame: Baseline and 1-month, 3-month, 4-month, and 6-month follow-up visits ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  Self-rating scale that assesses the presence and severity of the symptoms of a DSM-IV major depressive episode
  
  
• Physical Activity Questionnaire (PAQ) [ Time Frame: Baseline and 3-month and 6-month follow-up visits ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  Self-rating scale that assesses the frequency and intensity of various types of physical activity over the previous 3 months.
  
  
• Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Inventory with PTSD Addendum (PSQI-A) [ Time Frame: Baseline and 3-month and 6-month follow-up visits ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  Self-rating scale that assesses the frequency and severity of various sleep-related problems, including problems that frequently occur in persons with PTSD
  
  
• Semi-Structured Interview [ Time Frame: Baseline and 1-month, 3-month, 4-month, and 6-month follow-up visits, as well as 2-week, 2-month, and 4.5-month phone calls ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  Interview that asks open-ended questions to assess the subject's symptoms, quality of life, and experience related to have a dog
  
  
• UCLA Loneliness Scale, Version 3 [ Time Frame: Baseline and 1-month, 3-month, 4-month, and 6-month follow-up visits ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  Self-rating scale to assess symptoms of loneliness
  
  
• Veterans RAND 12-item Health Survey (VR-12) [ Time Frame: Baseline and 1-month, 3-month, 4-month, and 6-month follow-up visits ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  Self-rating scale that assess physical and mental aspects of health-related quality of life
  
  
• Numeric Rating Scale for Pain Intensity [ Time Frame: Baseline and 3-month and 6-month follow-up visits ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  Self-rating scale that assesses pain severity
  
  

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, a common mental disorder among Veterans, is marked by painful re-experiencing of a traumatic event, often together with depression, fearfulness, and social isolation. Despite major advances in rehabilitation, many Veterans continue to be disabled by PTSD. One possible new approach involves the use of shelter dogs, which might relieve symptoms and aid reintegration into society by providing emotional support and a greater sense of security. In this randomized controlled trial of 48 Veterans with chronic PTSD, we will evaluate whether the half who adopt a dog from the San Antonio Humane Society show greater improvement in their PTSD symptoms over the first three months than the half who are assigned to a waiting list.