A pilot study showed that dogs can be trained to identify manifestation of symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) from the breath .
Among 25 animals, two were sensitive to the difference in human odors in a stressful or non-stressful environment. From this, it was inferred that assistance dogs for PTSD patients can be trained to stop the consequences of the disorder early.
Humans have an “odor profile,” molecules of volatile organic compounds that are emitted from secretions. It has already been proven that dogs can identify these substances when they are linked to stress, so the next step is to study whether they can detect signs of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Currently, emotional support dogs are trained based on behaviors and physical evidence. If training to identify these symptoms from breath is used, crises can be stopped before manifestations in human attitudes.
At the study, 26 participants donated their scent and 57% were diagnosed with PTSD. Sessions were held with them in which they wore face masks and were reminded of their traumas, moments in which their breath was collected.
Then, Ivy and Callie were exposed to these odors and achieved stress identification accuracy of 74% and 81%, respectively.
Laura Kiiroja, lead author of the study, comments that “Although both dogs performed with very high accuracy, it appeared that they had a slightly different idea of what they considered a 'stressed' breath sample.”
He added: “We speculate that Ivy was tuned to hormones of the sympathetic-adrenomedullary axis (such as adrenaline) and Callie was oriented to hormones of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (such as cortisol).”
Source: CNN Brasil
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