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International journal of qualitative studies on health and well-being2016; 11; 31636; doi: 10.3402/qhw.v11.31636

Contribution of the patient-horse relationship to substance use disorder treatment: Patients’ experiences.

Abstract: A good therapeutic relationship is a strong predictor of successful treatment in addiction and other psychological illness. Recent studies of horse-assisted therapy (HAT) have drawn attention to the importance of the client's relationship to the horse in psychotherapy. Few have reported on the patient's own perspective and none have reported specifically on the human-horse relationship in substance use disorder (SUD) treatment and its implications for health and well-being. Objective: This article explores SUD patients' own experience of their relationship with the horse and their perceptions of its contribution to their therapy. Methods: As part of a large mixed-method study of HAT in SUD treatment, we used semi-structured interviews of eight patients to gather information about their experiences of HAT. From the data obtained, the relationship with the horse was found to be a significant part of participants' HAT experience. It is therefore the subject of the current phenomenological study, in which thematic analysis was used to investigate how the participants constructed the reality of their relationship with the horse(s) and their perceptions of the consequences of that reality in SUD treatment. Results: Participants' own descriptions suggest that the horses were facilitators of a positive self-construct and provided important emotional support during treatment. Analysis found relationship with the horse, emotional effect, and mastery to be important and interrelated themes. The findings were interpreted within an attachment theory context. Conclusions: The results appear to be consistent with key addiction treatment theories and with findings in HAT theoretical and empirical studies. They add to our understanding of the impact of HAT on SUD treatment. However, further research is needed into both the construct validity of the patient-horse therapeutic relationship and the possible variance within and between different populations.
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Publication Date: 2016-06-09 PubMed ID: 27291162PubMed Central: PMC4904069DOI: 10.3402/qhw.v11.31636Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research paper explores the influence of patient-horse relationships in substance use disorder (SUD) therapy based on patients’ experiences. The patients’ interaction with the horses appears to foster positive self-perception and emotional support during the treatment process.

Objective and Methodology

The primary objective of this study was to understand and analyze the experiences of SUD patients in their relationship with horses and its impact on their therapy. The data for the study was gathered through semi-structured interviews of eight patients undergoing horse-assisted therapy (HAT).

  • The interviews aimed to understand patients’ perceptions about the therapeutic process involving interaction with horses.
  • A subsequent phenomenological study focused on how patients constructed the reality of their relationship with the horse(s) and perceived the effects of that connection on their SUD treatment.
  • The authors used thematic analysis to extract meaningful themes and perceptions from the obtained narratives.

Results

The study found that participants considered their relationship with the horses as a significant part of their therapy.

  • The involvement with horses was instrumental in fostering a positive understanding of self, providing vital emotional support during treatment.
  • The data analysis revealed the relationship with the horse, emotional effect, and mastery as significant interconnected themes in the participants’ experiences.

Interpretation and Conclusions

The results were interpreted within the framework of attachment theory, considering the comfort and emotional support derived from the relationship with the horse akin to secure attachment figures.

  • The findings align with key addiction treatment theories and corroborate with data from existing HAT studies.
  • The study adds value to our understanding of the positive impact of HAT on SUD treatment.
  • However, the authors also call for further research into the construct validity of the therapeutic relationship between the patient and the horse. They suggest investigating possible variance within and across different populations to improve understanding of this therapy’s effectiveness.

Cite This Article

APA
Kern-Godal A, Brenna IH, Kogstad N, Arnevik EA, Ravndal E. (2016). Contribution of the patient-horse relationship to substance use disorder treatment: Patients’ experiences. Int J Qual Stud Health Well-being, 11, 31636. https://doi.org/10.3402/qhw.v11.31636

Publication

International journal of qualitative studies on health and well-being
ISSN: 1748-2631
NlmUniqueID: 101256506
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 11
Pages: 31636

Researcher Affiliations

Kern-Godal, Ann
  • Department of Addiction Treatment, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
  • Norwegian Centre for Addiction Research, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; ann@godal.com.
Brenna, Ida H
  • Department of Addiction Treatment, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
Kogstad, Norunn
  • Reinsvoll Psychiatric Hospital, Sykehuset Innlandet, Reinsvoll, Norway.
Arnevik, Espen A
  • Department of Addiction Treatment, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
  • Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
Ravndal, Edle
  • Norwegian Centre for Addiction Research, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.

MeSH Terms

  • Adult
  • Animals
  • Behavior, Addictive / therapy
  • Emotions
  • Equine-Assisted Therapy
  • Female
  • Horses
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Psychotherapy / methods
  • Self Concept
  • Substance-Related Disorders / therapy
  • Young Adult

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Citations

This article has been cited 11 times.
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