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Home / Equine Research Bank / Subst Abuse Treat Prev Policy / Equine-assisted services for individuals with substance use ...
Substance abuse treatment, prevention, and policy2022; 17(1); 81; doi: 10.1186/s13011-022-00506-x

Equine-assisted services for individuals with substance use disorders: a scoping review.

Abstract: The implementation of equine-assisted services (EAS) during treatment for psychological disorders has been frequently documented; however, little is known about the effect of EAS on outcomes for populations with substance use disorder (SUD). The purpose of this scoping review was to synthesize existing literature reporting the effects of EAS when incorporated into SUD treatment. This review followed guidelines in the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) checklist for scoping reviews. A search of four databases (MEDLINE/PubMed, PsycINFO, the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), and Academic OneFile) identified studies reporting quantitative and/or qualitative data for an EAS intervention that was implemented among a population receiving treatment for and/or diagnosed with SUD. Of 188 titles, 71 underwent full-text assessment and six met inclusion criteria. Three additional articles were identified through other sources. Quantitative data suggested a potential positive effect of EAS on SUD treatment retention and completion as well as participants' mental health; however, studies were limited by small sample sizes. Qualitative data indicated that in addition to participants developing bonds with the horses and perceiving EAS as welcomed breaks from traditional treatment, they experienced increased self-efficacy, positive emotional affect, and SUD treatment motivation. Due to methodological limitations and an overall dearth of available studies, the effectiveness of EAS as adjuncts to SUD treatment is inconclusive. Additional research is necessary before supporting broad implementation of EAS as adjuncts to SUD treatment.
© 2022. The Author(s).
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Publication Date: 2022-12-14 PubMed ID: 36517823PubMed Central: PMC9749232DOI: 10.1186/s13011-022-00506-xGoogle 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 article provides a scoping review of the impact of equine-assisted services (EAS) in the treatment of individuals with substance use disorders (SUD).

Introduction and Methods

  • In this research, the authors aimed to examine the effects of equine-assisted services (EAS) when used as a component of treatment for individuals dealing with substance use disorders (SUD). This kind of application of EAS in treatment for psychological disorders has been frequently acknowledged in previous studies, but its effectiveness for SUD patients is still unclear.
  • The authors conducted a scoping review as per the guidelines of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) checklist. The goal of this was to be able to map out the available evidence and identify research gaps.
  • Four online databases (MEDLINE/PubMed, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and Academic OneFile) were searched to identify possible studies providing either quantitative or qualitative data on the effects of an EAS intervention applied to a population diagnosed with SUD or undergoing SUD treatment.

Results

  • Out of 188 identified titles, only 71 were assessed in full text and six satisfied the inclusion criteria. Three additional articles were recognized from other sources.
  • The quantitative data from these studies suggested a potential positive effect of EAS on the retention and completion rates of SUD treatment, along with a possible improvement in participants’ mental health. However, these findings are limited due to the small sample sizes of the studies.
  • Furthermore, the qualitative data showed that participants not only developed attachments with the horses and considered EAS as a positive deviation from traditional treatment, but they also reported increased self-efficacy, a positive emotional state, and improved motivation towards their SUD treatment.

Conclusion

  • Despite the promising findings, the researchers concluded that the effectiveness of EAS as supplementary to SUD treatment remains inconclusive because of methodological limitations and a general scarcity of studies on the subject.
  • More research is suggested to be executed before EAS can be widely recommended as an adjunct to SUD treatment, to solidify the evidence base supporting its effectiveness.

Cite This Article

APA
Diaz L, Gormley MA, Coleman A, Sepanski A, Corley H, Perez A, Litwin AH. (2022). Equine-assisted services for individuals with substance use disorders: a scoping review. Subst Abuse Treat Prev Policy, 17(1), 81. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13011-022-00506-x

Publication

Substance abuse treatment, prevention, and policy
ISSN: 1747-597X
NlmUniqueID: 101258060
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 17
Issue: 1
Pages: 81
PII: 81

Researcher Affiliations

Diaz, Liam
  • Addiction Medicine Center, Prisma Health, 876 W Faris Rd, Greenville, SC, 29605, USA. Liam.Diaz2@PrismaHealth.org.
Gormley, Mirinda Ann
  • Addiction Medicine Center, Prisma Health, 876 W Faris Rd, Greenville, SC, 29605, USA.
  • Department of Emergency Medicine, Prisma Health, 701 Grove Rd, Greenville, SC, 29605, USA.
  • Department of Public Health Sciences, Clemson University College of Behavioral, Social, and Health Science, 503 Edwards Hall, Clemson, SC, 29631, USA.
  • Department of Emergency Medicine, University of South Carolina School of Medicine- Greenville, 701 Grove Rd, Greenville, SC, 29605, USA.
Coleman, Ashley
  • Addiction Medicine Center, Prisma Health, 876 W Faris Rd, Greenville, SC, 29605, USA.
Sepanski, Abby
  • Addiction Medicine Center, Prisma Health, 876 W Faris Rd, Greenville, SC, 29605, USA.
Corley, Heather
  • Lumin Center, 306A Mills Ave, Greenville, SC, 29605, USA.
Perez, Angelica
  • Addiction Medicine Center, Prisma Health, 876 W Faris Rd, Greenville, SC, 29605, USA.
  • Clemson University School of Health Research, 605 Grove Rd., Suite 301, Greenville, SC, 29605, USA.
Litwin, Alain H
  • Addiction Medicine Center, Prisma Health, 876 W Faris Rd, Greenville, SC, 29605, USA. Alain.Litwin@PrismaHealth.org.
  • Clemson University School of Health Research, 605 Grove Rd., Suite 301, Greenville, SC, 29605, USA. Alain.Litwin@PrismaHealth.org.
  • Department of Medicine, University of South Carolina School of Medicine- Greenville, 701 Grove Rd, Greenville, SC, 29605, USA. Alain.Litwin@PrismaHealth.org.
  • Department of Internal Medicine, Prisma Health, 876 W Faris Rd, Greenville, SC, 29605, USA. Alain.Litwin@PrismaHealth.org.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Humans
  • Emotions
  • Horses
  • Mental Health
  • Substance-Related Disorders / therapy

Conflict of Interest Statement

AHL has served on advisory boards for Merck Pharmaceuticals, AbbVie, and Gilead Sciences. AHL has received research grants from Merck Pharmaceuticals and Gilead Sciences. No other authors declared a conflict of interest related to this work. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this paper.

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Citations

This article has been cited 2 times.
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