Millions of people in the U.S. suffer from PTSD, and for many, psychiatric service dogs are a lifeline. PTSD, or post-traumatic-stress-disorder, is a mental health condition triggered by traumatic, life-threatening events. It often causes flashbacks, anxiety, depression, and in some cases, night-terrors. These symptoms can lead to increased isolation and decreased quality of life. For individuals with PTSD, psychiatric service dogs offer more than just companionship, as they have been trained to perform tasks that mitigate symptoms and give their owners a chance of stability. Psychiatric service dogs significantly improve the lives of their handlers with PTSD by providing comfort, assisting with daily life by reducing symptoms, and enabling greater levels of independence.
Post-traumatic-stress-disorder is a commonly misunderstood mental health condition even though it affects millions of Americans. After a traumatic event, it is difficult to go back to normal daily living for the first few weeks. But for individuals living with PTSD, that is not the case, as those unpleasant symptoms can last for years. For some, the hardest part of having PTSD is the unpredictability of symptoms like panic attacks resurfacing; Sassafras Lowrey, a woman diagnosed with the condition says,
“They could strike at any moment — in a college lecture hall, on a bus, at the grocery store, or at the airport” (Patterdale, 2020).
While there is no “cure” for PTSD, symptoms can be reduced with time and treatment plans.
Different forms of psycho-therapy and medications are clinically backed treatments for post-traumatic-stress-disorder, and they are typically used in unison with each other (National Center for PTSD). A more uncommon tool used in assisting people with PTSD is the psychiatric service dog. These dogs are specially trained to support the needs of their handler and require an endorsement from the handler’s mental health professional. Psychiatric service dogs not only aid in assisting those with PTSD during everyday tasks, but can add some much needed routine to their lives as well.
The emotional connection provided by dogs can provide a sense of companionship and emotional support, which is something often missing for those with PTSD. A common symptom for people who have this mental-health condition is developing trust issues; a dog’s unconditional love can be a safe haven in these situations. Not only do they provide comfort, but pets can encourage their owners to bring out more feelings like love and affection (National Center for PTSD). This bond between handler and dog helps rebuild trust in others and overall stability.
Basic commands like heeling, recalling, and staying in place are all essential skills for a pet dog to learn; but psychiatric service dogs (PSDs) must go a step beyond these basics and practice behaviors that don’t come naturally to canines. As mentioned earlier, service dogs are required to perform tasks related to a person’s disability. Some of these tasks are deep-pressure therapy (laying on top of their handler), interrupting anxiety-related behaviors, and creating space for their owner in crowded areas (Leighton, 2024). A well trained PSD will give their handler their complete focus and figure out when they need to intervene in order to calm down their owner.
In a trial conducted to study the impacts psychiatric service dogs make on veterans with PTSD, the results showed that PSDs “may be an effective complementary intervention for military service–related PTSD” (Leighton, 2024). The researchers split the veterans into two groups, one which would receive their PSDs, and one which did not; both had access to their usual mental health care. In the end, they found that, in combination with typical care, being partnered with a service dog resulted in lower PTSD symptom severity, higher social functioning, and greater life-satisfaction (Leighton, 2024). Although there has not been many studies done on the effects of having a service dog, this is not the only one.
One such survey was conducted in Australia on how PSDs influence their handler’s use of other methods meant for treating PTSD. Participants reported a wide range of positive impacts. For example, many handlers experienced a decrease in psychiatric and healthcare usage, attributed to “reduced suicide attempts, less need for hospitalizations, and less requirement for medication” (Leighton, 2024). While a third of those surveyed reported increased use of services, this was said to be because of their increased confidence from their service dog.
While psychiatric service dogs provide undeniable benefits, they are not the right fit for everyone. In regards to PTSD, one of the primary concerns is that people may develop an over-reliance on their dog (National Center for PTSD). Although they are trained to mitigate symptoms, dogs are not considered a replacement for therapy or other traditional treatments for PTSD. On top of this, an over-reliance on their service dog can, in some cases, make it more difficult for someone to cope in situations where the dog is not present.
Another reason that is occasionally brought up is the subject of extra attention and public access issues. One woman said this in regards to her biggest challenges, “Some people would get in our way when I was trying to get to class, or get on the bus, or buy my groceries” (Patterdale, 2020). Additionally, while laws such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) protect the rights of service dog handlers, individuals may still face ignorance or hostility in public spaces. And though many people simply do not know service dog etiquette, it can still cause unwanted stress for the handler, especially for those already suffering from PTSD.
Psychiatric service dogs save lives. They can be a transformative resource for individuals living with PTSD. These dogs offer more than just companionship or emotional support; they help rebuild the lives of those affected by trauma. However, service dogs are not a one-size-fits-all solution, the possibility for dependency, excess attention while in public, and public-access issues may outweigh the benefits for some. While more research can always be done to better understand the relationship between service dog and handler, the evidence so far highlights dogs’ significant role in enhancing their owner’s quality of life. The next time you see a service dog in action, stand back and appreciate the vital role they play in someone’s life.
References:
Leighton SC, Rodriguez KE, Jensen CL, et al. (2024, Jun. 4). Service Dogs for Veterans and Military Members With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Nonrandomized Controlled Trial. JAMA Netw Open. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.14686
Lloyd, J., Johnston, L., & Lewis, J. (2019). Psychiatric Assistance Dog Use for People Living With Mental Health Disorders. Frontiers in veterinary science, 6, 166. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2019.00166
National Center for PTSD. Dogs and PTSD https://www.ptsd.va.gov/gethelp/dogs_ptsd.asp
Patterdale, S. (2020, Jan. 13). What It’s Really Like to Have a Service Dog. AKC
National Center for PTSD. PTSD Basics