After experiencing one or more traumatic incidents, many police officers develop PTSD. This can lead to flashbacks, avoidance, a negative mood, and problems with attention and working memory. Many officers continue to experience symptoms for a long time after treatment (EMDR or cognitive behavioural therapy). The police force had been using assistance dogs for some time with staff suffering from severe PTSD symptoms, and whilst it appeared to be working, this had not yet been proven. Witjes-Roelofs therefore carried out this study, commissioned by the Police Academy, into the effect of dogs on the wellbeing and cognitive functioning of police officers with PTSD.
Calm and confidence
The study comprises a quantitative and a qualitative part. In the quantitative part, brain activity was measured using an EEG whilst the participants carried out tests. For example, they had to look at a screen on which a single letter appeared at a time, and if the letter was the same as the previous one, they had to press a button as quickly as possible. People with PTSD scored better on this working memory task when their dog was present than when their dog was not present whilst they were performing the test. Conversely, people without PTSD actually scored worse on the test in the presence of their dog.
In the qualitative part of the study, Witjes-Roelofs interviewed police officers with PTSD about their bond with their dogs. The interviews revealed that they experience emotional support thanks to their dogs. The presence of a dog often gives them a sense of calm, even when it is their own pet dog. Officers who have a special assistance dog also experience a sense of trust and security.
Training your own dog
A family dog can also provide some relief if a trained dog is not an option or is unavailable. Witjes-Roelofs: ‘Research shows that dogs can improve the wellbeing and functioning of people with PTSD, for example by mirroring behaviour or preventing people from reliving traumatic experiences when tension rises. Assistance dogs do this in a targeted and consistent manner, but an ordinary family dog can sometimes play a part in this too and thus offer support.’
An assistance dog is a dog trained (for example, by the KNGF) specifically for people with PTSD: they can wake these people from nightmares, remove their owner from a crowded space if this causes tension to rise, or mirror behaviour. Certified dogs are allowed access everywhere, so that people with PTSD can take them with them wherever they go.
As an assistance dog is sometimes not feasible or not available, the research also offers starting points for alternatives, according to Witjes-Roelofs. ‘A training programme has been developed for police officers with PTSD and their companion dogs. In it, the dog and its owner learn how the dog can provide emotional support to the owner. This training has now been added to the support package for people with PTSD within the police force.’ The researcher hopes that other organisations working with so-called ‘first responders’ will also benefit from the research. ‘There are currently 166 assistance dogs in service with the police. The Ministry of Defence and the fire service are also working on deploying assistance dogs as a support tool, but perhaps ambulance staff could benefit from them too. And the training programme for people who already have their own dog could also be useful within those organisations.’