Canines/dogs: their effectiveness as service dogs for those who have mental disabilities in the form of anxiety and depression
I am considering lobbying to have service dogs for those with mental disabilities in the form of anxiety and depression recognised formally by both the Scottish and UK governments?
Seek out the research about dogs being trained to intervene in PTSD flashbacks.
"Paws and Stripes is a new organization born out of one veteran’s need for relief from devastating symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injury after three tours of duty in Iraq. Service dogs are trained to bond and provide a sense of security and trust when the veteran is in public places. Dogs are trained in skills to address specific symptoms or risks that a veteran with PTSD might experience. Paws and Stripes has a growing wait list of veterans eager to be trained to work with a service dog." Retrieved from http://homeless.samhsa.gov/resource/dogs-trained-to-support-veterans-with-ptsd-50937.aspx
Thanks hugely Christine that's exactly what I was looking for with a view to transfer the model here to Scotland and research it's effectiveness as part of a wider project I'm currently engaged with!
Anytime! Let me know if/when you make progress on your project. Good luck!
Hi Miles,
I am an occupational therapist and an assistance dog trainer. I do have some ideas for you. The peer reviewed literature in this area is tricky as it is still an emerging practice area. Until recently, there was little in the way of ensuring validity and reliability for a number of reasons. First, there had not been a degree for this profession, and there are so many different training techniques, it is difficult to measure across organizations, states, countries, etc. Also, it is an area that requires education and expertise on people with disabilities, as well. However..... if you look into organizations that are members of ASSISTANCE DOGS INTERNATIONAL or ASSISTANCE DOGS Europe, you may get on a better track. These organizations have standards of practice for trainers, for recipients, and for the dogs that are trained-- so it is a decent start in looking at a collective of organizations that work together for continuing education and standards for everyone involved. One place to start would be http://warriorcanineconnection.com
They have a great team of healthcare providers and dog trainers who work in this area. Rick Yount is a great resource, I believe he is also a social worker with a few decades of experience. I am also happy to share anything else I can. I am working on a book that includes psychiatric service dogs and over the next few months will have more to share.
Hi Miles,
I am an occupational therapist and an assistance dog trainer. I do have some ideas for you. The peer reviewed literature in this area is tricky as it is still an emerging practice area. Until recently, there was little in the way of ensuring validity and reliability for a number of reasons. First, there had not been a degree for this profession, and there are so many different training techniques, it is difficult to measure across organizations, states, countries, etc. Also, it is an area that requires education and expertise on people with disabilities, as well. However..... if you look into organizations that are members of ASSISTANCE DOGS INTERNATIONAL or ASSISTANCE DOGS Europe, you may get on a better track. These organizations have standards of practice for trainers, for recipients, and for the dogs that are trained-- so it is a decent start in looking at a collective of organizations that work together for continuing education and standards for everyone involved. One place to start would be http://warriorcanineconnection.com
They have a great team of healthcare providers and dog trainers who work in this area. Rick Yount is a great resource, I believe he is also a social worker with a few decades of experience. I am also happy to share anything else I can. I am working on a book that includes psychiatric service dogs and over the next few months will have more to share.
Thanks Melissa, All of this information is hugely appreciated by me.
I myself am interested in have a well-informed evidence-based service k9 recognized and given the same status by organisations, individuals as well as business, as guide dogs for the blind currently receive.
My own personal and professional interest is that of Siberian Huskies as a method to promote health when engaged with in wild places. I have 8 and have been training them to fulfill this role, with a view to engage with those like myself who are disabled with complex post traumatic stress disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, anxiety and depression. With a background professionally in public health nursing (as well as veteran (for most of the 80s) Combat Medical Technician in the Royal Army Medical Corps (volunteers), you may see the connection for my interest. I also have decades of mountaineering and hillwalking experience solo as well as in small teams. I have been investigating through the research literature the benefits of healthy levels of physical activity from a public health perspective. I have also investigated through the nursing research published in peer-reviewed professional journals, of the role and findings relating to spirituality (I worked for 18 months in long stay unit for the elderly and a further 3 years in an active treatment centre for cancer. I have spent the last decade undertaking this investigation with a view to designing a robust research method to test out if there are any short,,medium and long-term benefits to health from an activity that incorporates teaming up and working on foot with Siberian Huskies through wild places to promote individual participants spiritual health.
Your signposting above is as you can thus see, invaluable to me!