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Journal of marital and family therapy2021; 47(4); 925-944; doi: 10.1111/jmft.12485

Equine-assisted psychotherapy with traumatized couples-Improvement of relationship quality and psychological symptoms.

Abstract: Many traumatised individuals suffering from deployment related PTSD report severe problems in their relationships. Up until now, the therapeutic interventions used by the German Armed Forces have rarely targeted these problems through the integration of partners. For this reason, a Program designed specifically for couples was developed. In this prospective study equine-assisted psychotherapy was applied to soldiers and their spouses. The study population consisted of n = 36 couples, divided in n = 20 therapy group with a inpatient equine-assisted intervention and a 16-couples control group. After the intervention, numerous significant improvements occurred in the therapy group in the areas of current, somatic and communication problems, depressive symptoms and partnership quality but not in the control group. PTSD was reduced significantly on the sub-scale associated with negative thoughts. These results show that the intervention is an effective way to improve partnership quality and reduce the stressors that the partners of afflicted service members face.
© 2021 American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.
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Publication Date: 2021-01-29 PubMed ID: 33512042DOI: 10.1111/jmft.12485Google 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.

The research delves into the effects of equine-assisted psychotherapy on soldiers and their spouses who are experiencing relationship problems due to deployment related Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The study revealed significant improvements in various areas, such as current and communication issues, depressive symptoms, and overall partnership quality in those who received therapy in comparison to the control group.

Introduction and Rationale

  • This research is rooted in the observed challenges among members of the German Armed Forces who, after deployments, report severe relationship problems which are often linked to PTSD.
  • Existing therapeutic interventions have rarely targeted these issues in a way that involves the soldiers’ partners. This prompted the researchers to develop a program that’s specifically designed for couples.

Methodology

  • In this study, equine-assisted psychotherapy was administered to 36 couples who were chosen for the study population.
  • The couples were split into two groups; 20 couples participated in therapy that involved an in-patient equine-assisted intervention, while the remaining 16 couples served as a control group, receiving no such intervention.

Results

  • Post intervention, significant improvements were witnessed in the therapy group as compared to the control group. These improvements covered a range of areas like current, somatic, and communication problems, depressive symptoms, and the quality of the partnership they share.
  • The therapy group also exhibited significant reduction in PTSD, specifically in the sub-scale related to negative thoughts. However, the control group showed no such improvement.

Implications of the Study

  • The results indicate that equine-assisted psychotherapy holds the potential to improve the quality of relationships and reduce the stress levels that the partners of service members who are suffering from PTSD face.
  • This could potentially make it a beneficial therapeutic intervention for armed forces globally, expanding its application and impact to a broader scale.

Cite This Article

APA
Willmund G, Zimmermann P, Alliger-Horn C, Varn A, Fischer C, Parent I, Sobottka A, Bering R, Rose C, Ströhle A, Köhler K. (2021). Equine-assisted psychotherapy with traumatized couples-Improvement of relationship quality and psychological symptoms. J Marital Fam Ther, 47(4), 925-944. https://doi.org/10.1111/jmft.12485

Publication

Journal of marital and family therapy
ISSN: 1752-0606
NlmUniqueID: 7904614
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 47
Issue: 4
Pages: 925-944

Researcher Affiliations

Willmund, Gerd
  • German Armed Forces Center for Military Mental Health, Berlin, Germany.
Zimmermann, Peter
  • German Armed Forces Center for Military Mental Health, Berlin, Germany.
Alliger-Horn, Christina
  • German Armed Forces Center for Military Mental Health, Berlin, Germany.
Varn, Alexander
  • German Armed Forces Center for Military Mental Health, Berlin, Germany.
Fischer, Christian
  • Military Chaplaincy Central Office, Berlin, Germany.
Parent, Ilka
  • Minds-n-Motion, Steinwenden, Germany.
Sobottka, Andreas
  • Alexianer Institute for Psychotraumatology, Krefeld, Germany.
Bering, Robert
  • Alexianer Institute for Psychotraumatology, Krefeld, Germany.
Rose, Carolyn
  • German Armed Forces Center for Military Mental Health, Berlin, Germany.
Ströhle, Andreas
  • Clinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité University Medicine, Berlin, Germany.
Köhler, Kai
  • German Armed Forces Center for Military Mental Health, Berlin, Germany.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Anxiety
  • Equine-Assisted Therapy
  • Horses
  • Humans
  • Military Personnel
  • Prospective Studies
  • Psychotherapy
  • Spouses

Grant Funding

  • German Armed Forces Center for Military Mental Health

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Citations

This article has been cited 4 times.
  1. Wijnen B, Martens P. Animals in Animal-Assisted Services: Are They Volunteers or Professionals?. Animals (Basel) 2022 Sep 26;12(19).
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