Randomized Controlled Trial of Therapeutic Horseback Riding in Children and Adolescents With Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Abstract: This study expands previous equine-assisted intervention research by evaluating the effectiveness of therapeutic horseback riding (THR) on self-regulation, socialization, communication, adaptive, and motor behaviors in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Methods: Participants with ASD (aged 6-16 years; N = 127) were stratified by nonverbal IQ standard scores (≤85 or >85) and randomized to 1 of 2 groups for 10 weeks: THR intervention or a barn activity (BA) control group without horses that used similar methods. The fidelity of the THR intervention was monitored. Participants were evaluated within 1 month pre- and postintervention by raters blinded to intervention conditions and unblinded caregiver questionnaires. During the intervention, caregivers rated participants' behaviors weekly. Results: Intent-to-treat analysis conducted on the 116 participants who completed a baseline assessment (THR n = 58; BA control n = 58) revealed significant improvements in the THR group compared to the control on measures of irritability (primary outcome) (p = .02; effect size [ES] = 0.50) and hyperactivity (p = .01; ES = 0.53), beginning by week 5 of the intervention. Significant improvements in the THR group were also observed on a measure of social cognition (p = .05; ES = 0.41) and social communication (p = .003; ES = 0.63), along with the total number of words (p = .01; ES = 0.54) and new words (p = .01; ES = 0.54) spoken during a standardized language sample. Sensitivity analyses adjusting for age, IQ, and per protocol analyses produced consistent results. Conclusions: This is the first large-scale, randomized, controlled trial demonstrating efficacy of THR for the ASD population, and findings are consistent with previous equine-assisted intervention studies. Background: Trial of Therapeutic Horseback Riding in Children and Adolescents With Autism Spectrum Disorder; http://clinicaltrials.gov; NCT02301195.
Published by Elsevier Inc.
Publication Date: 2015-05-05 PubMed ID: 26088658PubMed Central: PMC4475278DOI: 10.1016/j.jaac.2015.04.007Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Randomized Controlled Trial
- Research Support
- N.I.H.
- Extramural
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 demonstrates the effectiveness of therapeutic horseback riding (THR) in helping children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) improve in areas such as self-regulation, communication, socialization, motor and adaptive behaviors.
Study Synopsis
- The randomized controlled trial involved 127 participants aged between 6 and 16 years, all diagnosed with ASD. The participants’ nonverbal IQ standard scores were used to stratify them into two groups.
- One group was subjected to the THR intervention for ten weeks, while the control group took part in barn activities (BA) that didn’t involve horses but used similar methods.
- The process, fidelity, and impact of the THR intervention were monitored and participants were assessed a month before and after the intervention.
- Different from previous studies, assessments were conducted by both raters who were not aware of the intervention conditions (blinded) and unblinded caregiver questionnaires.
- The weekly behavior of the participants during the intervention was rated by the caregivers.
Research Findings
- The intent-to-treat analysis was based on findings from 116 participants who completed the baseline assessment. The results showed that the THR group (58 participants) showed more improvements as compared to the control group (58 participants).
- Significant improvements were noted in areas of irritability (primary outcome) and hyperactivity beginning from the fifth week of the intervention.
- There were also notable improvements in the social cognition and social communication areas of the THR group. Improvements were noticed too in the total number of words and new words spoken during a standardized language sample.
- Performing sensitivity analyses that adjusted for age, IQ and subsequently per protocol analysis, the findings were found to be consistent.
Conclusion and Importance of the Study
- This research is the first large-scale randomized and controlled trial demonstrating the efficacy of THR for the ASD population.
- The findings are consistent with past studies involving equine-assisted intervention, further affirming the role and potential benefits of THR in ASD therapy.
- Such an intervention could have a considerable impact on helping ASD children in various aspects, including communication, self-regulation, and socialization.
Cite This Article
APA
Gabriels RL, Pan Z, Dechant B, Agnew JA, Brim N, Mesibov G.
(2015).
Randomized Controlled Trial of Therapeutic Horseback Riding in Children and Adolescents With Autism Spectrum Disorder.
J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry, 54(7), 541-549.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaac.2015.04.007 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and the Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO. Electronic address: robin.gabriels@childrenscolorado.org.
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and the Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO.
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and the Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO.
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and the Children's Hospital Colorado.
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and the Children's Hospital Colorado.
- University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.
MeSH Terms
- Adolescent
- Animals
- Autism Spectrum Disorder / therapy
- Child
- Equine-Assisted Therapy / methods
- Female
- Horses
- Humans
- Male
- Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
- Self-Control
- Single-Blind Method
- Social Behavior
- Treatment Outcome
- United States
Grant Funding
- R01 NR012736 / NINR NIH HHS
- UL1 TR001082 / NCATS NIH HHS
- R01NR012736 / NINR NIH HHS
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