How do psychiatric service dogs help people?
PSDs help people with psychiatric disabilities by performing specific tasks that mitigate their symptoms. For example, a PSD may be trained to:

– Provide deep pressure therapy to reduce anxiety
– Interrupt and redirect repetitive or harmful behaviors
– Provide tactile stimulation to help with dissociation or flashback episodes
– Guide their owner to a safe place during a panic attack
– Alert their owner to the onset of a psychiatric episode or symptom, such as a seizure or flashbacks

Who can benefit from a psychiatric service dog?
Individuals with a wide range of psychiatric disabilities can benefit from a PSD, including but not limited to:

– Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
– Anxiety disorders, such as generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) or social anxiety disorder (SAD)
– Mood disorders, such as depression or bipolar disorder
– Schizophrenia or other psychotic disorders
– Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
– Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) with comorbid psychiatric conditions