Trauma-Focused Equine-Assisted Therapy (TF-EAT) for Veterans With PTSD

NCT03068325 | Completed Results

• 1 other identifier: IRB # 7232
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 63
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study seeks to examine feasibility, acceptability, safety, and preliminary efficacy of Equine-Assisted Therapy for veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (EAT-PTSD). While several well-studied, validated treatments for PTSD exist, some individuals find these treatments ill-suited, ineffective, or undesirable. EAT is an alternative therapy widely used by organizations, such as PATH International Equine Services, that endorse its effectiveness for treating a variety of mental health issues. These claims have drawn criticism because the published research contains glaring methodological flaws, making it difficult to assess how effective these therapies actually are (Anestis et al., 2014). Equine-assisted therapies present a unique treatment modality that might effectively treat PTSD, particularly for individuals who have difficulty with other treatment modalities. In EAT, a psychotherapist and equine specialist work together to help the patients negotiate interactions with a horse using structured interventions or activities.

Conditions

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Change From Baseline in Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale at 8 Weeks

  Change in symptoms of PTSD as assessed by the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5 (CAPS-5, severity rating ranging from 0-80 with higher scores indicating more severe PTSD) in a clinical interview

  8 weeks

Study Arms (1)

EAT-PTSD

EXPERIMENTAL

Manualized Equine-Assisted Treatment for PTSD (EAT-PTSD) seeks to increase affective awareness of self and others, improve communication, help regulate emotional response, improve critical thinking/problem solving, and increase self-confidence/self-efficacy while engaging with the horses.

Other: EAT-PTSD

Interventions

EAT-PTSD OTHER

EAT-PTSD

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 70 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Between the ages of 18 and 70
• Current DSM-5 diagnosis of PTSD as determined by a) full criteria met on CAPS, and b) clinical assessment
• Able to give consent, fluent in English

You may not qualify if:

• History of psychiatric diagnosis of psychotic disorder, unstable bipolar disorder
• Elevated depression of clinical concern and/or score of \>25 on the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression
• At elevated risk for suicide based on history and current mental state
• History of substance/alcohol use disorder at severe level within the past six months, and current diagnosis of substance/alcohol use disorder at a moderate level within past two months
• Fear of horses or other large animals
• Orthopedic or other physical conditions and/or limitations that prevent people from walking unassisted and/or walking freely in the ring.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene, Inc.: lead
• Columbia University: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

New York State Psychiatric Institute

New York, New York, 10032, United States

Location

Related Publications (3)

• Fisher PW, Lazarov A, Lowell A, Arnon S, Turner JB, Bergman M, Ryba M, Such S, Marohasy C, Zhu X, Suarez-Jimenez B, Markowitz JC, Neria Y. Equine-Assisted Therapy for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Among Military Veterans: An Open Trial. J Clin Psychiatry. 2021 Aug 31;82(5):21m14005. doi: 10.4088/JCP.21m14005.

  PMID: 34464523 DERIVED

• Zhu X, Suarez-Jimenez B, Zilcha-Mano S, Lazarov A, Arnon S, Lowell AL, Bergman M, Ryba M, Hamilton AJ, Hamilton JF, Turner JB, Markowitz JC, Fisher PW, Neria Y. Neural changes following equine-assisted therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder: A longitudinal multimodal imaging study. Hum Brain Mapp. 2021 Apr 15;42(6):1930-1939. doi: 10.1002/hbm.25360. Epub 2021 Feb 5.

  PMID: 33547694 DERIVED

• Arnon S, Fisher PW, Pickover A, Lowell A, Turner JB, Hilburn A, Jacob-McVey J, Malajian BE, Farber DG, Hamilton JF, Hamilton A, Markowitz JC, Neria Y. Equine-Assisted Therapy for Veterans with PTSD: Manual Development and Preliminary Findings. Mil Med. 2020 Jun 8;185(5-6):e557-e564. doi: 10.1093/milmed/usz444.

  PMID: 32034416 DERIVED

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Stress Disorders, Traumatic; Trauma and Stressor Related Disorders; Mental Disorders

Results Point of Contact

• Title: Yuval Neria
• Organization: New York State Psychiatric Institute

ny126@cumc.columbia.edu

646-774-8092

Study Officials

• Yuval Neria, PhD

  Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York State Psychiatric Institute

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Publication Agreements

• PI is Sponsor Employee: Yes

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Professor of Medical Psychology

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: February 26, 2017
• First Posted: March 1, 2017
• Study Start: April 1, 2016
• Primary Completion: July 1, 2019
• Study Completion: December 1, 2019
• Last Updated: April 8, 2025
• Results First Posted: April 8, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-04

Locations

US (1)