Psychiatric Service Dogs (PSDs) are vital in assisting individuals with a range of psychiatric conditions. According to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), any mental health condition that significantly limits one or more major life activities may qualify. Below are several recognized conditions:

• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): PSDs help by providing grounding and presence during severe anxiety and flashbacks.
• Severe Depression: These dogs provide comfort and disrupt harmful patterns of behavior.
• Anxiety Disorders: They aid in reducing episodes of intense fear through calming tasks.
• Bipolar Disorder: PSDs assist in managing extremes of mood swings and provide stability.
• Schizophrenia: They help mitigate the effects of hallucinations or paranoia by providing reality checks and security.
• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD): Dogs can interrupt repetitive behaviors and provide distraction during episodes of compulsion.
• Panic Disorder: They can detect signs of a panic attack early and perform tasks to mitigate its effects.
• Eating Disorders: PSDs are trained to disrupt harmful eating behavior patterns and provide emotional support.
• Personality Disorders: These dogs help in managing emotional dysregulation and impulsivity associated with various personality disorders.
• Autism Spectrum Disorder (for adults): They assist in reducing overwhelm in social situations and provide a calming influence.
• Dissociative Disorders: PSDs aid in grounding a person during dissociative episodes and ensure safety.

Tasks Performed by PSDs

Psychiatric Service Dogs are trained to perform specific tasks tailored to the individual's needs, addressing the symptoms of their condition:

• Grounding in Reality: PSDs provide physical comfort like tactile stimulation to reduce dissociation or panic.
• Interrupting Harmful Behaviors: These dogs are trained to interrupt or redirect behaviors such as self-harm or compulsive actions.
• Retrieving Medication: They bring medication at scheduled times or during perceived episodes of need.
• Guiding to Safety: PSDs lead their handlers to safety during episodes of confusion or disorientation.