Service Dogs Help Traumatized Vete...(id. While all this may seem trivial it'...),Health

The virtual environment will be populated with grocery carts pushed by other shoppers (some loud, some not) and soldiers will have to deal with a collision of shopping carts, said Levy, adding that the prototype is not yet finished.

Other researchers will be trying to develop a more effective helmet for combat, and others are seeing if mifepristone, known as "the abortion pill," can help men and women with chronic, multi-symptom illness from the 1990-91 Gulf War.

"It's exactly the same medication [as that used in abortions]. Safety studies have been done and we don't anticipate any issue with that," Kaime said.

More information

There's more on dogs like Boo at the Psychiatric Dog Service Association.

SOURCES: Joan Gibbon Esnayra, president and founder, Psychiatric Dog Service Association; Charles E. Levy, M.D., chief, physical medicine and rehabilitation, North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System; Craig T. Love, Ph.D., senior study director, Westat, Rockville, Maryland; Jennifer Pacanowski, Henryville, Pa.; Aug. 5, 2009, telebriefing with Capt. Melissa Kaime, M.D., director, Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program, Fort Detrick, Md.