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Military Medical Research2018; 5(1); 3; doi: 10.1186/s40779-018-0149-6

Effects of therapeutic horseback riding on post-traumatic stress disorder in military veterans.

Abstract: Large numbers of post-deployment U.S. veterans are diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and/or traumatic brain injury (TBI), leading to an urgent need for effective interventions to reduce symptoms and increase veterans' coping. PTSD includes anxiety, flashbacks, and emotional numbing. The symptoms increase health care costs for stress-related illnesses and can make veterans' civilian life difficult. We used a randomized wait-list controlled design with repeated measures of U.S. military veterans to address our specific aim to test the efficacy of a 6-week therapeutic horseback riding (THR) program for decreasing PTSD symptoms and increasing coping self-efficacy, emotion regulation, social and emotional loneliness. Fifty-seven participants were recruited and 29 enrolled in the randomized trial. They were randomly assigned to either the horse riding group (n = 15) or a wait-list control group (n = 14). The wait-list control group experienced a 6-week waiting period, while the horse riding group began THR. The wait-list control group began riding after 6 weeks of participating in the control group. Demographic and health history information was obtained from all the participants. PTSD symptoms were measured using the standardized PTSD Checklist-Military Version (PCL-M). The PCL-M as well as other instruments including, The Coping Self Efficacy Scale (CSES), The Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS) and The Social and Emotional Loneliness Scale for Adults-short version (SELSA) were used to access different aspects of individual well-being and the PTSD symptoms. Participants had a statistically significant decrease in PTSD scores after 3 weeks of THR (P ≤ 0.01) as well as a statistically and clinically significant decrease after 6 weeks of THR (P ≤ 0.01). Logistic regression showed that participants had a 66.7% likelihood of having lower PTSD scores at 3 weeks and 87.5% likelihood at 6 weeks. Under the generalized linear model(GLM), our ANOVA findings for the coping self-efficacy, emotion regulation, and social and emotional loneliness did not reach statistical significance. The results for coping self-efficacy and emotion regulation trended in the predicted direction. Results for emotional loneliness were opposite the predicted direction. Logistic regression provided validation that outcome effects were caused by riding longer. The findings suggest that THR may be a clinically effective intervention for alleviating PTSD symptoms in military veterans.
Publication Date: 2018-01-19 PubMed ID: 29502529PubMed Central: PMC5774121DOI: 10.1186/s40779-018-0149-6Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Randomized Controlled Trial

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.

The study investigated the efficacy of a six-week program of therapeutic horseback riding (THR) on reducing symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and improving coping mechanisms in U.S. military veterans. The results demonstrated significant decreases in PTSD symptoms after 3 and 6 weeks of THR, pointing to the possible benefits of this intervention for veterans with PTSD.

Study Methodology

  • The researchers used a randomized wait-list controlled study design, with repeated measures applied to a group of U.S. military veterans experiencing PTSD and/or traumatic brain injury (TBI). Veterans were randomly assigned to either a horse riding group or a wait-list control group. The control group began horse riding after a 6-week waiting period.
  • A total of fifty-seven participants were initially recruited for the study. However, only twenty-nine enlisted in the randomized trial. The horse riding group comprised 15 individuals, while the control group contained 14.
  • Demographic and health history information was collected from all participants to understand their background and health status.

Data Collection and Analysis

  • PTSD symptoms were measured using the PTSD Checklist-Military Version (PCL-M), a standardized tool designed to screen and quantify the severity of PTSD in veterans.
  • Other assessment tools used included The Coping Self Efficacy Scale (CSES), The Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS) and The Social and Emotional Loneliness Scale for Adults-short version (SELSA). These instruments provided insight into participants’ ability to cope, regulate emotions, and deal with social and emotional isolation.
  • The collected data was statistically analyzed. There was a significant reduction in PTSD scores following 3 weeks of THR (P ≤ 0.01) and a further substantial decrease after 6 weeks of THR (P ≤ 0.01). This pointed to the measurable benefits of the THR intervention in terms of PTSD symptom reduction.

Results and Conclusion

  • Logistic regression showed a 66.7% likelihood of participants having lower PTSD scores at 3 weeks, and an 87.5% likelihood at 6 weeks. This indicated a high probability of symptom improvement with continued THR.
  • The findings also pointed to positive trends in coping self-efficacy and emotion regulation, although these did not reach statistical significance. In contrast, results for emotional loneliness did not align with the anticipated direction.
  • Overall, the study results suggested that therapeutic horseback riding might represent an effective intervention for the relief of PTSD symptoms in military veterans. However, further research is warranted to validate these findings and understand the impact of THR on other aspects of participants’ well-being.

Cite This Article

APA
Johnson RA, Albright DL, Marzolf JR, Bibbo JL, Yaglom HD, Crowder SM, Carlisle GK, Willard A, Russell CL, Grindler K, Osterlind S, Wassman M, Harms N. (2018). Effects of therapeutic horseback riding on post-traumatic stress disorder in military veterans. Mil Med Res, 5(1), 3. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40779-018-0149-6

Publication

ISSN: 2054-9369
NlmUniqueID: 101643181
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 5
Issue: 1
Pages: 3
PII: 3

Researcher Affiliations

Johnson, Rebecca A
  • Research Center for Human Animal Interaction, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA. rajohnson@missouri.edu.
  • Research Service, Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans' Hospital, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA. rajohnson@missouri.edu.
Albright, David L
  • School of Social Work, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, 35487, USA.
Marzolf, James R
  • Occupational Health Services, Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans' Hospital, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA.
Bibbo, Jessica L
  • Center for the Human-Animal Bond, College of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA.
Yaglom, Hayley D
  • School of Health Professions, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA.
Crowder, Sandra M
  • Research Center for Human Animal Interaction, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA.
Carlisle, Gretchen K
  • Research Center for Human Animal Interaction, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA.
Willard, Amy
  • TREE House of Greater St. Louis, Wentzville, MO, 63385, USA.
Russell, Cynthia L
  • School of Nursing and Health Studies, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas City, MO, 64108, USA.
Grindler, Karen
  • Cedar Creek Therapeutic Riding Center, Columbia, MO, 65201, USA.
Osterlind, Steven
  • College of Education, School and Counseling Psychology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA.
Wassman, Marita
  • Ride-On St. Louis, Kimmswick, MO, 63053, USA.
Harms, Nathan
  • TREE House of Greater St. Louis, Wentzville, MO, 63385, USA.

MeSH Terms

  • Adaptation, Psychological
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Brain Injuries, Traumatic / psychology
  • Brain Injuries, Traumatic / therapy
  • Equine-Assisted Therapy / methods
  • Equine-Assisted Therapy / standards
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Logistic Models
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / psychology
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / therapy
  • United States
  • United States Department of Veterans Affairs / organization & administration
  • Veterans / psychology

Grant Funding

  • #00040568 / Horses and Humans Research Foundation
  • n/a / University of Missouri Interdisciplinary Center on Aging

Conflict of Interest Statement

ETHICS APPROVAL AND CONSENT TO PARTICIPATE: This material is the result of work supported with resources and the use of facilities at the Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans Hospital, Columbia, MO. The study had the approval of the VA Research and Development Committee at the Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans Hospital, the University of Missouri Health Sciences Institutional Review Board (#1207664), and the university’s Animal Care and Use Committee (#7760). All participants completed the VA Research Consent Form, which had HS IRB approval. The HS IRB is the IRB of record for the Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans Hospital. COMPETING INTERESTS: The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

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