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Journal of child & adolescent trauma2024; 18(1); 139-149; doi: 10.1007/s40653-024-00666-x

An Equine-Assisted Intervention Versus Non-Manualized Psychotherapy for Youth in a Residential Childcare Facility.

Abstract: Characteristics of individuals with disruptive behavior disorders often include elevated externalizing behaviors such as impulsivity, defiance of authority and antagonism of social norms. Evidence shows that adolescents diagnosed with these types of disorders are particularly challenging to treat; however, therapies incorporating horses have shown some success. We examined the impact of an equine-assisted intervention compared to a non-manualized cognitive behavioral therapy in youth between 12- and 18-years old living in a residential childcare facility. Upon admittance, youth were administered three assessments: the Youth Self-Report, Adolescent Psychopathology Scale, and Basic Empathy Scale. Youth scoring in the clinical range for at least one externalizing subscale of the Youth Self-Report were assigned to equine-assisted intervention (EQI;  = 23) or non-manualized cognitive behavioral therapy (NM-CBT;  = 20) groups. Each group received a total of 7 h of treatment per week (three 2-hr group sessions and one 1-hr individual session) for 24 weeks. After 24 weeks of treatment, the same three assessments were administered a second time. There were no significant differences between the NM-CBT and EQI groups in the amount of change between assessments. A significant time effect was found for total externalizing behaviors in the Adolescent Psychopathology Scale and Youth Self-Report such that these measures were within the normal range after 24 weeks of treatment for participants in both groups.
Publication Date: 2024-10-30 PubMed ID: 40098785PubMed Central: PMC11910449DOI: 10.1007/s40653-024-00666-xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

Summary

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Overview

  • This study compared the effects of an equine-assisted intervention (therapy involving horses) with non-manualized cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) on adolescents with disruptive behavior disorders living in a residential childcare facility.
  • Both groups showed improvements in externalizing behaviors after 24 weeks, with no significant difference between the two treatment types.

Background

  • Disruptive behavior disorders in youth are characterized by heightened externalizing behaviors such as impulsivity, defiance, and antagonism toward social norms.
  • Adolescents with these disorders are often difficult to treat using conventional methods.
  • Equine-assisted therapy, which involves interactions with horses, has demonstrated some promise as a treatment approach for this population.

Study Objective

  • To evaluate the effectiveness of equine-assisted intervention (EQI) compared to a non-manualized cognitive behavioral therapy (NM-CBT) on reducing externalizing behaviors in youth aged 12-18 in a residential childcare setting.

Participants and Methodology

  • Youth entering the residential facility were screened using three assessment tools:
    • Youth Self-Report (YSR)
    • Adolescent Psychopathology Scale (APS)
    • Basic Empathy Scale (BES)
  • Youth who scored in the clinical range on at least one externalizing subscale of the YSR were selected for the study.
  • These participants were assigned into two groups:
    • Equine-Assisted Intervention group (EQI), n=23
    • Non-Manualized Cognitive Behavioral Therapy group (NM-CBT), n=20
  • Each group received equal total weekly treatment dosage:
    • 7 hours per week (three 2-hour group sessions and one 1-hour individual session)
    • Treatment duration was 24 weeks

Assessments and Measurements

  • The same three assessment tools (YSR, APS, BES) were administered at baseline (upon admittance) and again after 24 weeks of treatment.
  • Focus was particularly on externalizing behavior subscales to measure change.

Results

  • No significant differences were found between the EQI and NM-CBT groups in the degree of change from baseline to post-treatment.
  • Both groups demonstrated significant improvement over time in total externalizing behaviors as measured by the APS and YSR, moving from clinical to normal ranges by the end of treatment.

Conclusions and Implications

  • Both equine-assisted intervention and non-manualized cognitive behavioral therapy were effective in reducing externalizing symptoms in youth with disruptive behavior disorders in residential care.
  • The equine-assisted approach did not outperform the NM-CBT despite prior suggestions of its benefit.
  • This suggests that structured therapeutic interventions, regardless of type, can yield substantial improvements in challenging youth populations.
  • Further research may explore combining or individualizing approaches or long-term outcomes beyond 24 weeks.

Cite This Article

APA
Berg EL, Gooch M, Feldmann LM, Knight B, Verlaine J, Bach-Gorman A. (2024). An Equine-Assisted Intervention Versus Non-Manualized Psychotherapy for Youth in a Residential Childcare Facility. J Child Adolesc Trauma, 18(1), 139-149. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40653-024-00666-x

Publication

ISSN: 1936-1521
NlmUniqueID: 101306630
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 18
Issue: 1
Pages: 139-149

Researcher Affiliations

Berg, Erika L
  • Department of Animal Sciences, North Dakota State University, PO Box 6050, Dept 7630, Fargo, ND 58108-6050 USA.
Gooch, Mike
  • Northern Nevada HOPES, Reno, NV USA.
Feldmann, Laura M
  • Home on the Range, Sentinel Butte, ND USA.
Knight, Bettye
  • Home on the Range, Sentinel Butte, ND USA.
Verlaine, Jess
  • Home on the Range, Sentinel Butte, ND USA.
Bach-Gorman, Amber
  • Amber Bach-Gorman Counseling and Consulting Services, Fargo, ND USA.

Conflict of Interest Statement

Conflict of interestOn behalf of all authors, the corresponding author states that there is no conflict of interest.

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