Psychiatric service dogs provide those with psychiatric disabilities vital assistance; not only do they provide comfort and emotional support, but they are trained to help make their day-to-day life more manageable by performing complex tasks.
In this guide, we will go over how a psychiatric service dog can help specifically with panic attacks. We’ll also discuss everything else you need to know – including their legal protections and how they differ from an emotional support animal (ESA) – so you can make an informed decision about whether a psychiatric service dog is right for you.
A psychiatric service dog (PSD) assists individuals with psychiatric disorders by performing tasks that help to mitigate symptoms associated with their disability. For example, a psychiatric service dog can be trained to retrieve items like medication, provide deep pressure therapy, or even alert their handler of an impending panic attack.
PSDs need to undergo thorough and specialized training to learn how to perform all the necessary tasks.
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) officially defines a psychiatric service dog as a dog that is “individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities.” They also stress that “the task(s) performed by the dog must be directly related to the person’s disability.”
Any breed can become a PSD with the appropriate training, guidance and temperament. However, there are a few breeds that tend to be more well-suited for this line of work, including Golden Retrievers, Poodles, Cavaliers and Labradors. These breeds are particularly renowned for their loyalty, intelligence and gentle demeanor.
A common misconception is that psychiatric service dogs and emotional support animals are the same. However, they are two very different things. An emotional support animal does not need to have any specialized training. Their only role is to provide their owner emotional support and comfort through companionship. Virtually any animal can become an emotional support animal.
While psychiatric service dogs are recognized and protected by the ADA, emotional support animals are not, though they do receive some legal protections. We discuss in-depth the legal rights a PSD has a little further down.
A PSD can be trained to perform several tasks that can help with panic attacks. Below, we’ll cover the main ones.
Dogs are exceptionally smart. They can pick up on mood or behavioral shifts within us, often before we even fully recognize them ourselves. Couple their heightened awareness with appropriate training, and you get a psychiatric service dog that’s capable of alerting their handler of an impending panic attack.
A psychiatric service dog can alert their handler in several ways, including by nudging, pawing or licking.
This advanced warning can give their owner time to prepare, such as retreating to a quiet place or retrieving medication, before the panic attack takes over. It can even help disrupt the panic attack: the warning helps to redirect their focus onto their dog, and also allows them to consciously recognize their state of panic.
When their handler is in the midst of a panic attack, a psychiatric service dog can be trained to retrieve vital medication and water (to swallow the medicine). They can even be taught to bring a phone to their handler.
Besides assisting their handler during a panic attack, a psychiatric service dog can also be trained to bring them medication at certain times. This can help their handler keep to a regular schedule, while giving them a sense of security and order. It also prevents the chance of adverse symptoms arising as a result of late or missed medication dosages.
Moreover, a psychiatric service dog can be trained to remind their handler to take their medication, and to keep nudging or pawing until the medication has been taken.
Deep pressure therapy involves a PSD lying against their handler’s body to apply pressure with their weight. Research has shown that this can have a calming effect, which can help the person feel more grounded and prevent the panic attack from escalating further.
Not all psychiatric service dogs will be able to lie fully against their handler – some are far too large and heavy for this. However, these dogs can instead apply deep pressure therapy by placing their paws or head onto their handler’s chest.
It’s also worth noting that small breeds are not really capable of performing deep pressure therapy, as they weigh too little.
A PSD can be trained to stand between their handler and those around them, creating a safe and non-overwhelming space. This can help the person to feel more at ease in social situations or public spaces, both of which can trigger a panic attack. This is particularly the case for those with social anxiety disorder or claustrophobia.
Psychiatric service dogs can also be taught to guard their handler to provide them with a better sense of security and safety.
A PSD can be trained so that if their handler is experiencing a panic attack and needs immediate attention, they will locate the closest person (or emergency responder) and bring them over.
Psychiatric service dogs can also be taught to open the front door (using a lever handle), ensuring their owner can receive help even if they’re within the home but are unable to open the door by themselves due to their panic attack’s symptoms.
A panic attack can make an individual feel dizzy, faint or lightheaded, all of which can throw them off balance. A psychiatric service dog can help their handler with this by positioning their body in a way that offers counter-resistance.
A PSD can then lead their owner to a safe area where they can properly steady themselves, or sit and rest until their sense of balance returns.
A psychiatric service dog can be taught to perform tactile stimulation on command or if they sense a change in their handler’s mood. Tactile stimulation can help to soothe the individual and also ground them by redirecting their focus.
A PSD can provide stimulation by nudging, licking or pawing, among other behaviors.
There are several other ways that a psychiatric service dog can help with panic attacks, including (but not limited to):
Companionship is an immense benefit in its own right. Several studies have shown that owning a dog can help alleviate anxiety, stress and loneliness, all of which can potentially mitigate panic attacks and ruminating thoughts.
A psychiatric service dog offers a constant, calming presence for their handler, no matter where they are. This can help the individual to feel more secure and at ease, ultimately lessening the chance of a panic attack.
Living with a debilitating mental health disability can make it exceptionally challenging to maintain a regular routine. This lack of structure can cause an individual to feel out of control, which can heighten anxiety and panic.
However, a psychiatric service dog can help their handler build a routine, while making this routine more manageable for them. For example, a PSD can wake them up in the morning at set times, and ensure they keep to their medication schedule. They can also perform tasks that allow their handler to easily go about their day, such as helping them feel safe enough to travel to work by acting as a buffer.
A 2019 study found that dog owners are much more likely to meet physical activity guidelines than those without a dog – which isn’t too surprising!
Regular exercise isn’t just good for physical health; it can also drastically improve your mental wellbeing. It can boost mood and energy levels, as well as alleviate stress. Exercise can even help to lessen anxiety disorder-related symptoms, including panic attacks.
If you would like to find out more (science-backed) benefits of having a dog, check out this American Kennel Club (AKC) article.
A psychiatric service dog is protected under several federal and state laws. These laws allow them to perform the vital work they were trained to do, no matter where they are. Their rights include:
An individual with a PSD can only be asked two questions (under the ADA): “1) is the dog a service animal required because of a disability? and 2) what work or task has the dog been trained to perform?”
They cannot be asked about their disability or to provide documentation. They can also not be asked to get their dog to demonstrate a task.
A psychiatric service dog doesn’t just provide those experiencing panic attacks great relief; they also help them gain back control over their day-to-day lives.
If you believe a PSD will help you better manage your panic attacks and improve your quality of life, you should speak to a doctor or licensed mental health professional. They can help you determine if you qualify for a PSD.
The requirements include having a debilitating psychiatric disability that impacts your daily life, having a stable home environment, and being able to appropriately care for a dog without assistance. You must also be able to take part in the dog’s training process.