Updates

Innovative Pilot Study for Veterans and First Responders with PTSD

Posted on by Daniel Bage

Warriors Choice Foundation is partnering with leading industry experts on a pilot research study designed to explore innovative, whole-person approaches to post-traumatic stress in veterans and first responders.

This proposed study will examine how several complementary interventions may help reduce PTSD symptoms and improve day-to-day functioning when added to a participant’s usual mental health care. The four modalities being evaluated are:

  • HYPERBARIC OXYGEN THERAPY (HBOT) – breathing concentrated oxygen in a pressurized chamber, which has shown promising early results in improving PTSD symptoms and brain health.
  • ANIMAL ASSISTED THERAPY – highly trained dogs that provide task-based support for PTSD and structured work with horses that focuses on regulation, trust, communication, and rebuilding confidence.
  • EXPLORATORY OZONE-BASED INTERVENTIONS – a small, carefully monitored arm focused on veterans with PTSD and chronic inflammatory or “Lyme-like” conditions, aimed at understanding safety and biologic effects.

    • Across all arms, participants will wear the Emerja Energi wristband, a research-grade wearable that continuously tracks heart rate, heart-rate variability, sleep, and activity. The study will also collect blood-based biomarkers. Together, these data will help researchers understand how each intervention may influence stress physiology, inflammation, sleep, and overall well-being, and will generate the evidence needed to support a larger NIH-funded trial.

    Warriors Choice Foundation’s role in this collaboration centers on recruitment, veteran support, and the service-dog programming that is at the heart of our mission to restore purpose, connection, and quality of life.