POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER, OR PTSD, IS A MEDICAL CONDITION THAT CAN DEVELOP AFTER EXPERIENCING OR WITNESSING A TRAUMATIC EVENT OR MULTIPLE EVENTS AND/OR BEING EXPOSED TO TRAUMATIC EVENTS FOR PROLONGED PERIODS OF TIME, SUCH AS BEING DEPLOYED TO WAR ZONES. POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER CAN AFFECT BOTH CHILDREN AND ADULTS. RESEARCH SUPPORTS THE USE OF SERVICE DOGS TO DECREASE SYMPTOMS AND INCREASE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THOSE WITH PTSD. PSYCHIATRIC SERVICE ANIMALS ARE DEFINED AS THOSE INDIVIDUALLY TRAINED TO DO WORK OR PERFORM SPECIFIC TASKS FOR PEOPLE WITH MENTAL HEALTH DISABILITIES, SUCH AS PTSD. SOME OF THESE TASKS INCLUDE WAKING A PERSON FROM NIGHTMARES, LEADING AN INDIVIDUAL TO A BUILDING EXIT DURING AN ANXIETY ATTACK, GROUNDING AN INDIVIDUAL THROUGH NUDGING, PAWING, OR LEANING, AND BRINGING MEDICATION TO A PERSON ON COMMAND.