Psychiatric Service Dogs

Programs that provide and train recipients in the use of dogs who have been taught to work with and respond to individuals disabled by mental illness. The dogs may remind the individual to take medication at a specific time; turn on lights and search a room for intruders; warm the person's body during a panic attack; interrupt checking and other repetitive behaviors; stay with the person during acute emotional stress; alert to mania, panic attacks or dissociative episodes; interrupt dissociative episodes or flashbacks; assist the individual in distinguishing "reality" from auditory or visual hallucinations; provide a constant grounding presence; and serve as a trustworthy companion when the person is negotiating paranoia.