Equine‐Assisted Therapy for Anxiety and Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms

Abstract

We tested the efficacy of the Equine Partnering Naturally(©) approach to equine-assisted therapy for treating anxiety and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. Participants were 16 volunteers who had experienced a Criterion A traumatic event, such as a rape or serious accident, and had current PTSD symptoms above 31 on the PTSD Checklist (PCL-S; Weathers, Litz, Herman, Huska, & Keane, ). Participants engaged in tasks with horses for 6 weekly 2-hour sessions. Immediately following the final session, participants reported significantly reduced posttraumatic stress symptoms, d = 1.21, less severe emotional responses to trauma, d = 0.60, less generalized anxiety, d = 1.01, and fewer symptoms of depression, d = 0.54. As well, participants significantly increased mindfulness strategies, d = 1.28, and decreased alcohol use, d = 0.58. There was no significant effect of the treatment on physical health, proactive coping, self-efficacy, social support, or life satisfaction. Thus, we found evidence that the Equine Partnering Naturally(©) approach to equine-assisted therapy may be an effective treatment for anxiety and posttraumatic stress symptoms. Future research should include larger groups, random assignment, and longer term follow-up.

Equine-Facilitated Therapy and Trauma: Current Knowledge, Future Needs

“…Historical trauma experienced by American Indians and other groups is often overlooked in the trauma literature, but youth who participated in a multi-component intervention that included EFT showed improvement in cultural identity, coping strategies, quality of life and social adjustment (Goodkind et al, 2012). Of the five studies with samples of adults, one included veterans (Nevins et al, 2012) two included women who had experienced interpersonal violence (Schroeder & Stroud, 2015;Shambo et al, 2010), and one included men and women with various traumatic events (Earles et al, 2015). Improvement was found in PTSD symptoms, mindfulness, depression, dissociative symptoms, anxiety, and depression.…”

Efeitos Da Equoterapia Sobre a Ansiedade E Qualidade De Vida De Um Idoso Institucionalizado: Um Relato De Caso

“…'Desta forma, o contato com o animal pode desencadear respostas orgânicas que diminuem o estado de alerta e apreensão constantes em um indivíduo ansioso (NEPPS et al, 2014). Foi observado em estudo prévio que a prática de equoterapia durante seis semanas (uma sessão semanal com duração de duas horas) promoveu diminuição nos sintomas de ansiedade em pacientes com síndrome de estresse póstraumático (EARLES et al, 2015). No presente relato, não foi observada diminuição significativa na ansiedade-traço do paciente, uma vez que esta é menos passível de modificação, já que é uma característica da personalidade do indivíduo (SPIELBERGER et al, 1970).…”

Pet ownership and physical health

“…A single-group pretest-posttest design with 16 adults with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) found that 6 weekly 2-h sessions of equine-assisted therapy reduced symptoms of PTSD, emotional trauma, anxiety, alcohol use, and depression. Mindfulness increased, but physical health was unchanged [36]. Another single-group pretestposttest design found that regular AAT with a dog decreased loneliness in 21 geriatric nursing home residents [37].…”