Psychiatric assistance dog: Difference between revisions
I edited the task list so that it more accurately reflects assistance with primary psychiatric symptomology rather than secondary phenomena such as medication side effects. |
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Like all [[assistance dogs]], a psychiatric service dog helps its handler mitigate her disability by doing work or performing tasks, including, but not limited to: |
Like all [[assistance dogs]], a psychiatric service dog helps its handler mitigate her disability by doing work or performing tasks, including, but not limited to: |
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* Medication reminders at specific times of the day |
* Medication reminders at specific times of the day |
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* Alerting incipient episodes such as significant mood shifts, panic attacks, or dissociative episodes |
* Alerting to incipient episodes such as significant mood shifts, panic attacks, or dissociative episodes |
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* Responding to an episode in a manner that is adaptive for the handler |
* Responding to an episode in a manner that is adaptive for the handler |
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* Waking the handler if she sleeps through alarms or cannot otherwise get herself out of bed |
* Waking the handler if she sleeps through alarms or cannot otherwise get herself out of bed |
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* Assisting a handler with hallucination discernment |
* Assisting a handler with hallucination discernment |
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* Assisting a handler |
* Assisting a handler with environmental assessment (i.e., reality-testing for feelings of fear and paranoia) |
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* Interrupting a handler's repetitive or self-injurious behaviors |
* Interrupting a handler's repetitive or self-injurious behaviors |
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* Assisting a handler |
* Assisting a handler disabled by Panic Disorder w/Agoraphobia to safely leave her home |
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* Carrying a handler's identification in case of dissociative episodes or fugue states |
* Carrying a handler's identification in case of dissociative episodes or fugue states |
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* Leading a handler out of a crowd during a panic attack, fugue state or dissociative episode |
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* Providing exclusive focus and tactile stimulation when a handler requires it in order to mitigate symptoms |
* Providing exclusive focus and tactile stimulation when a handler requires it in order to mitigate symptoms |
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* Aiding with [[mobility]] when the handler is dizzy from medication or has psychosomatic (physical) symptoms |
* Aiding with [[mobility]] when the handler is dizzy from medication or has psychosomatic (physical) symptoms |
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Revision as of 00:41, 28 December 2006
Psychiatric Service Dogs, also called "medical alert dogs" or "medical response dogs," are a specific type of service dog that help their handler with a psychiatric disability such as Major Depressive Disorder, Bipolar disorder, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Autism, Anxiety Disorders, and Schizophrenia.
Like all assistance dogs, a psychiatric service dog helps its handler mitigate her disability by doing work or performing tasks, including, but not limited to:
- Medication reminders at specific times of the day
- Alerting to incipient episodes such as significant mood shifts, panic attacks, or dissociative episodes
- Responding to an episode in a manner that is adaptive for the handler
- Waking the handler if she sleeps through alarms or cannot otherwise get herself out of bed
- Assisting a handler with hallucination discernment
- Assisting a handler with environmental assessment (i.e., reality-testing for feelings of fear and paranoia)
- Interrupting a handler's repetitive or self-injurious behaviors
- Assisting a handler disabled by Panic Disorder w/Agoraphobia to safely leave her home
- Carrying a handler's identification in case of dissociative episodes or fugue states
- Leading a handler out of a crowd during a panic attack, fugue state or dissociative episode
- Providing exclusive focus and tactile stimulation when a handler requires it in order to mitigate symptoms
- Aiding with mobility when the handler is dizzy from medication or has psychosomatic (physical) symptoms
Psychiatric service dogs may be of any breed suited for public work. Many are trained by the person who will become the dog's handler with or without the help of a professional trainer. However, assistance dog organizations are increasingly recognizing the need for dogs to help individuals with psychiatric disabilities.
In the United States, federal and state laws, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act, allow handlers of psychiatric service dogs the same rights and protections afforded to those with other types of assistance dogs.