Therapeutic Horsemanship in Veterans
- Conditions
- Traumatic Brain InjuryPost Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Interventions
- Other: Standard CareBehavioral: Therapeutic Horseback Riding
- Registration Number
- NCT02891421
- Lead Sponsor
- University of Missouri-Columbia
- 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.
- Detailed Description
Large numbers of post-deployed U.S. veterans diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and/or Traumatic Brain Injury make effective interventions urgent, to reduce symptoms and increase veterans' coping. PTSD includes anxiety, flashbacks, and emotional numbing. Symptoms expand health care costs for stress-related illnesses making veterans' civilian life difficult.
The proposed study used a randomized experimental design with repeated measures and waitlist control group testing the efficacy of a 6-week human-horse interaction and systematic therapeutic horseback riding program in: decreasing PTSD symptoms, increasing coping self efficacy, emotion regulation, and social engagement. The Riding Group spent one hour weekly interacting with and riding the same horse at one of two PATH-accredited riding centers in Mid-Missouri supervised by an Occupational Therapist, Profession Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship (PATH) International-certified instructor, leader and side walkers as needed. Riding was directed by a systematic lesson plan. Data collection occured at baseline, 3 weeks, and 6 weeks. The Control Group was assessed at the same intervals and again 3 weeks and 6 weeks after joining the Riding Group.
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- COMPLETED
- Sex
- All
- Target Recruitment
- 38
- 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
- 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
Study & Design
- Study Type
- INTERVENTIONAL
- Study Design
- CROSSOVER
- Arm && Interventions
Group Intervention Description Standard Care Standard Care Participants received standard care. Therapeutic Horseback Riding Therapeutic Horseback Riding Therapeutic 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
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Change in Coping Self-Efficacy Scale (CSES) Day 1, 3 weeks and 6 weeks 26 item, 11 point analog scale
Change in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist-Military Version (PCL-M) Day 1, 3 weeks and 6 weeks 17 item, 5 point scale
- Secondary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Change in Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS) Day 1, 3 weeks and 6 weeks 36 item, 5 point Likert-type scale
Change in Social and Emotional Loneliness Scale for Adults (SELSA) scale Day 1, 3 weeks and 6 weeks 15 item, 7 point Likert-type scale.