Wildlife and Wellbeing: An Animal-Assisted Intervention for Veterans With PTSD

NCT ID: NCT04116489

Last Updated: 2024-10-16

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 19 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2019-07-05
• Study Completion Date: 2022-12-31

Brief Summary

This study investigates a novel approach to animal-assisted interventions through a series of wildlife immersion activities (wildlife observation, wildlife rehabilitation and bird feeding/watching) for veterans who have suffered trauma as part of their military duty. Findings from this study will advance scientific knowledge about the benefits of wildlife activities for veterans with PTSD including the acceptability, feasibility, safety and preliminary influence on physical and mental well-being. The findings will be instrumental in advancing a new area of health intervention research for veterans in settings that are publicly accessible and family-oriented for sustainable, low-cost interventions with potential application in other populations.

Detailed Description

This study utilized a single group/ modified crossover design. The intervention included an introductory forest walk followed by 3 wildlife immersion activity experiences in different settings that offered different ways to experience wildlife. This included an introductory forest walk, a wildlife rehabilitation center, a wildlife sanctuary and a bird watching program. Each activity was conducted twice to minimize potential anxiety and novelty effects. Activities were conducted in small groups to provide peer support.

Conditions

Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic

Study Design

• Allocation Method: NA
• Intervention Model: SINGLE_GROUP
• Primary Study Purpose: SUPPORTIVE_CARE
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

Wildlife Immersion Activity

We will use a single group/ modified crossover design in which each participant receives an introductory forest walk followed by 3 wildlife immersion activity experiences in different settings .

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Forest walk

Intervention Type: OTHER

Participants will be provided with an educational program about the forest and take a guided forest walk.

Wildlife rehabilitation

Intervention Type: OTHER

Participants will be provided with education on wildlife rehabilitation and assist with wildlife care such as feeding baby animals.

Wildlife sanctuary observation

Intervention Type: OTHER

Participants will be provided an educational program on wildlife care and accompany park game keepers during animal feeding and will observe iconic wildlife.

Bird feeding and watching

Intervention Type: OTHER

Participants will learn about bird identification and safe bird feeding. Bird feeders will be provided at the Soldier On facility for home bird feeding after study conclusion.

Interventions

Forest walk

Participants will be provided with an educational program about the forest and take a guided forest walk.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Wildlife rehabilitation

Participants will be provided with education on wildlife rehabilitation and assist with wildlife care such as feeding baby animals.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Wildlife sanctuary observation

Participants will be provided an educational program on wildlife care and accompany park game keepers during animal feeding and will observe iconic wildlife.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Bird feeding and watching

Participants will learn about bird identification and safe bird feeding. Bird feeders will be provided at the Soldier On facility for home bird feeding after study conclusion.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Veterans with PTSD/PTSD symptoms (per self report)
• Fully vaccinated against Covid-19, which is defined by the CDC as:

• 2 weeks after second dose in a 2-dose series, such as the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or
• 2 weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson's Janssen vaccine
• Age 18-70
• Comfortable interacting with animals
• Sufficient mobility to walk or navigate wheelchair up to one mile at leisurely pace
• Cognitive ability to complete assessments
• Service/ support animals are permitted as long as they meet the following criteria: the animal must be leashed, housebroken and with sufficient training that the owner has control over its barking and any other behaviors that would threaten the safety of other visitors or animals.
• Participants with visual or hearing impairments must have corrected vision and hearing through glasses and/ or hearing aid(s).
• No active addiction or intoxication as determined by 30 days or more free from drugs or alcohol abuse
• Willing to refrain from alcohol and illicit substances before and during activities
• No severe immunosuppression or other conditions with advisement by health care provider to limit or prevent contact with animals and birds
• No severe outdoor allergy.
• Not currently enrolled in the Veteran's Treatment Court program

Exclusion Criteria

• Veterans without PTSD/PTSD symptoms (per self report
• Not fully vaccinated against Covid-19
• Age <18 or >70
• Not comfortable interacting with animals
• Not sufficiently mobile to walk or navigate wheelchair up to one mile at leisurely pace
• Cognitively unable to complete assessments
• Service/ support animals that do not meet the following criteria: leashed, housebroken and with sufficient training that the owner has control over its barking and any other behaviors that would threaten the safety of other visitors or animals.
• Participants with visual or hearing impairments who do not have corrected vision and hearing through glasses and/ or hearing aid(s).
• Active addiction or intoxication as determined by < 30 days free from drugs or alcohol abuse
• Not willing to refrain from alcohol and illicit substances before and during activities
• Severe immunosuppression or other conditions with advisement by health care provider to limit or prevent contact with animals and birds
• Severe outdoor allergy
• Currently enrolled in the Veteran's Treatment Court program

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 70 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)

NIH

Sponsor Role: collaborator

University of Massachusetts, Worcester

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Donna Perry

Associate Professor

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Donna J Perry

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

UMass Medical School

Locations

University of Massachusetts Medical School

Worcester, Massachusetts, United States

Countries

United States

Provided Documents

Document Type: Study Protocol and Statistical Analysis Plan

View Document

Other Identifiers

1R21HD097771

Identifier Type: NIH

Identifier Source: secondary_id

View Link

H00016795

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id