Simply put, a Psychiatric Service Dog (service animal) is trained to perform a specific task, while an emotional support animal provides comfort. Most people are familiar with service animals assisting individuals with mobility, vision, or physical disabilities. With the advancement of mental health treatment, these supportive animals are becoming more common.
Why Do People Confuse a Psychiatric Service Dog vs Emotional Support Animal?
Symptoms related to mental health conditions can impact people in a variety of ways. However, not all symptoms render an individual “disabled” according to the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, also known as ADA. Simply having a mental health diagnosis does not necessarily warrant the use of an ESA or PSD.
The ADA defines a mental health disability as an impairment that greatly limits one or more major life activities. Emotional Support Animals provide comfort and companionship to individuals impacted by disabling mental health symptoms. However, the law does not consider them to be “service animals.”
On the other hand, psychiatric service dogs fall under the category of “Service Animals”. These dogs undergo special training to perform tasks for people with a qualifying disability. Psychiatric service animals allow disabled individuals to live a more independent lifestyle and participate in daily activities.
An ESA (Emotional Support Animal) may have formal training in obedience, agility, and owner protection. Even so, they do not qualify as a “service animal” unless they perform a specific, trained task.
Both Emotional Support Animals and Psychiatric Dogs play a vital role in managing mental health conditions. Here are a few examples of how patients use them and how they differ.
Emotional Support Animals in Practice
- Anxiety Grounding: A patient with anxiety is experiencing the early symptoms of a panic attack and begins petting their Emotional Support Cat. This comforting interaction can often help mitigate the symptoms the patient is experiencing or minimize their severity, providing a grounding distraction during acute distress.
- Routine Building: Depressive symptoms have made it difficult for a patient to find motivation to leave the house. The responsibility related to caring for an emotional support dog encourages the patient to take the dog for a walk at least twice a day, generally helping to establish a predictable daily routine.
- Social Connection: A patient experiences significant social anxiety when meeting new people and has developed a tendency to isolate. They have committed to taking their emotional support animal to a public dog park on a regular basis. At the dog park, the patient is often approached by other dog owners to engage in conversations about their pets. Because the patient is comfortable with this topic, they become open to making new friends.
Psychiatric Service Dogs in Practice
- Interrupting Dissociation: A patient with Borderline Personality Disorder frequently experiences episodes of dissociation where they feel detached from themselves and “zone out.” Their psychiatric service dog has been specially trained to identify when their handler has dissociated and respond by applying gentle teeth pressure to the patient’s forearm. Performing this task interrupts the dissociation and helps the patient return to the present moment.
- PTSD Room Check: An active military veteran diagnosed with PTSD is paralyzed when faced with entering a dark room. They are constantly accompanied by their Psychiatric Service Dog who has been specifically trained to enter the room first and turn on the light. Performing this task makes it possible for the patient to evaluate the space for safety.
- Medication Reminders: When the medication regimen becomes inconsistent for a patient with Bipolar Disorder, they become resistant to taking the medications necessary to stabilize their condition. The patient was provided with a psychiatric service dog trained to alert them when it is time to take their medication and bark persistently until the patient complies. This task creates an unpleasant environment for the reluctant patient, giving them the choice to take their medication or continue to endure the dog’s behavior.
During difficult times, many people who are struggling with symptoms such as depression, anxiety, loneliness, or a tendency to isolate turn to their pets for comfort and companionship. When the therapeutic benefits of a pet are combined with other methods of treatment, the result can be life-changing for the patient. Having an emotional support animal affords them the opportunity to self-manage their symptoms and increase the effectiveness of the overall treatment plan.tunity to self-manage their symptoms and increase the effectiveness of the overall treatment plan.
Looking for a Truly Whole-Person Approach to Mental Health?
Whether integrating an emotional support animal, adjusting your nutrition, or optimizing your biology, true healing requires looking at the root causes of your symptoms. At Modyfi, we design comprehensive care plans tailored to your unique lifestyle. Schedule Your Comprehensive 60-Minute Evaluation with our multidisciplinary team today.
REFERENCES
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Assistance Animals Guidance.
28 CFR, Part 36, Subpart A. Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disability by Public Accommodations and in Commercial Facilities.
Brennan, J., Nguyen, V. (2014). Service Animals and Emotional Support Animals: Where are they allowed and under what conditions?.
Evans, R. (2020). How a Dog Can Help With Depression.
U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, Disability Rights Section. Frequently Asked Questions about Service Animals and the ADA.
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, HUD No. 20-013. HUD Issues Guidance on Reasonable Accommodations under the Fair Housing Act Relating to Assistance Animals.
