Therapeutic Horsemanship in Veterans
Effects of Equine Assisted Activities on PTSD Symptoms, Coping Self-efficacy, Emotion Regulation, and Social Engagement in U.S. Military Veterans
1 other identifier
interventional
38
0 countries
N/A
Brief Summary
The project partnered with U.S. military veterans with a premier accredited therapeutic riding center for six weeks. The veterans interacted with horses by grooming and learning about them, as well as riding them for one hour per week during which they gained a variety of skills. We hoped the veterans would experience a reduction in Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms, depression, and loneliness, while improving their social and emotional health and self-efficacy.
Trial Health
Trial Health Score
Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach
participants targeted
Target at P25-P50 for not_applicable
Started May 2013
Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.
Trial Relationships
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Study Timeline
Key milestones and dates
Study Start
First participant enrolled
May 1, 2013
CompletedPrimary Completion
Last participant's last visit for primary outcome
February 1, 2015
CompletedStudy Completion
Last participant's last visit for all outcomes
February 1, 2015
CompletedFirst Submitted
Initial submission to the registry
September 1, 2016
CompletedFirst Posted
Study publicly available on registry
September 7, 2016
CompletedSeptember 7, 2016
September 1, 2016
1.8 years
September 1, 2016
September 1, 2016
Conditions
Outcome Measures
Primary Outcomes (2)
Change in Coping Self-Efficacy Scale (CSES)
26 item, 11 point analog scale
Day 1, 3 weeks and 6 weeks
Change in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist-Military Version (PCL-M)
17 item, 5 point scale
Day 1, 3 weeks and 6 weeks
Secondary Outcomes (2)
Change in Social and Emotional Loneliness Scale for Adults (SELSA) scale
Day 1, 3 weeks and 6 weeks
Change in Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS)
Day 1, 3 weeks and 6 weeks
Study Arms (2)
Therapeutic Horseback Riding
OTHERTherapeutic Horseback Riding: Veterans were matched to a horse by the instructor and occupational therapist for best fit and the same horse was ridden each week
Standard Care
OTHERParticipants received standard care.
Interventions
Veterans were matched to a horse for best fit and the same horse was ridden each week. The warm-up exercises involved various repeated physical movements while the horse was walking or standing steady, such as head rotations, lifting arms, rotating ankles, flexing toes. The exercises began with riding at a walk during the early weeks, learning reining skills and riding positions, and progressed to light trotting. Veteran participants were able to build on skill sets related to grooming, tacking, mounting, and riding that were introduced in prior weeks. Skill progression was based on individual abilities and safety as determined by certified riding instructor and occupational therapist.
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if:
- Age 18 years or older
- Veterans, left active military service (not serving in reserve units.)
- Diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder/Traumatic Brain Injury or both according to ICD-9 diagnostic codes.
- Weight less than 220 pounds.
- Able to walk at least 25 feet without the assistance of a person (but potentially with assistive devices).
- Willing to interact with and ride a horse.
- Have not ridden a horse in the past year.
- Care Provider assent
You may not qualify if:
- Age less than 18 years
- Veterans in active military service (including reserve units).
- No diagnosis of PTSD/TBI or both according to ICD-9 diagnostic codes.
- Weight greater than 221 pounds.
- Unable to walk at least 25 feet without the assistance of a person (but potentially with assistive devices.)
- Unwilling to interact with and ride a horse.
- Have been riding a horse in the past year.
- Care Provider unwilling to provide assent
Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.
Sponsors & Collaborators
- University of Missouri-Columbialead
- Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans' Hospitalcollaborator
- Horses and Humans Research Foundationcollaborator
Related Publications (4)
Bisson J, Andrew M. Psychological treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2007 Jul 18;(3):CD003388. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD003388.pub3.
PMID: 17636720BACKGROUNDBrewin CR, Andrews B, Valentine JD. Meta-analysis of risk factors for posttraumatic stress disorder in trauma-exposed adults. J Consult Clin Psychol. 2000 Oct;68(5):748-66. doi: 10.1037//0022-006x.68.5.748.
PMID: 11068961BACKGROUNDHakanson M, Moller M, Lindstrom I, Mattsson B. The horse as the healer-a study of riding in patients with back pain. J Bodyw Mov Ther. 2009 Jan;13(1):43-52. doi: 10.1016/j.jbmt.2007.06.002. Epub 2007 Aug 24.
PMID: 19118792BACKGROUNDHoge CW, McGurk D, Thomas JL, Cox AL, Engel CC, Castro CA. Mild traumatic brain injury in U.S. Soldiers returning from Iraq. N Engl J Med. 2008 Jan 31;358(5):453-63. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa072972. Epub 2008 Jan 30.
PMID: 18234750BACKGROUND
MeSH Terms
Conditions
Interventions
Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)
Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)
Study Officials
- PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Rebecca A Johnson, PhD
University of Missouri-Columbia
Study Design
- Study Type
- interventional
- Phase
- not applicable
- Allocation
- RANDOMIZED
- Masking
- NONE
- Purpose
- TREATMENT
- Intervention Model
- CROSSOVER
- Sponsor Type
- OTHER
- Responsible Party
- PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
- PI Title
- Prinicipal Investigator
Study Record Dates
First Submitted
September 1, 2016
First Posted
September 7, 2016
Study Start
May 1, 2013
Primary Completion
February 1, 2015
Study Completion
February 1, 2015
Last Updated
September 7, 2016
Record last verified: 2016-09