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Home / Equine Research Bank / Addict Sci Clin Pract / Substance use disorder treatment retention and completion: a...
Addiction science & clinical practice2015; 10; 21; doi: 10.1186/s13722-015-0043-4

Substance use disorder treatment retention and completion: a prospective study of horse-assisted therapy (HAT) for young adults.

Abstract: Keeping substance use disorder patients actively engaged in treatment is a challenge. Horse-assisted therapy (HAT) is increasingly used as a complementary therapy, with claimed motivational and other benefits to physical and psychological health. This naturalistic study aimed to assess HAT's impact on the duration and completion of treatment for young substance users at Oslo University Hospital. Methods: Discharge and other data were derived from the Youth Addiction Treatment Evaluation Project (YATEP) database for patients (n = 108) admitted during an 18-month period. An intention-to-treat design, and univariate and multivariate analyses were used to compare those receiving treatment as usual (n = 43) with those who received treatment as usual plus HAT (n = 65). Results: Despite a lack of randomization, the baseline characteristics of the two groups were similar. However, more HAT participants completed treatment (56.9 vs 14 %, p < 0.001), remained in treatment for longer (mean 141 vs 70 days, p < 0.001) and had a significantly higher chance of completing their treatment than those not given the HAT program. Excluding time in treatment, and after controlling for the potentially confounding influence of age, sex, education, number and severity of substances used, psychological distress and number of temporary exits, the adjusted odds ratio for treatment completion was 8.4 in the HAT group compared with those not participating in HAT (95 % CI 2.7-26.4, p < 0.001). Conclusions: The study found a statistically significant association between HAT participation and time in treatment, and between HAT participation and completion of treatment. This association does not infer causality. However, it adds supporting evidence for the development of an innovative therapy, and warrants investment in further research in relation to its inclusion in substance use disorder treatment.
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Publication Date: 2015-10-14 PubMed ID: 26466788PubMed Central: PMC4672500DOI: 10.1186/s13722-015-0043-4Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Clinical Trial
  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

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 paper focuses on assessing the impact of horse-assisted therapy (HAT) on the duration of treatment and its completion among young substance users. The findings suggest a significant association between participation in HAT and persistent engagement in treatment as well as treatment completion.

Methods

  • The researchers conducted a naturalistic study involving 108 patients at Oslo University Hospital within an 18-month period.
  • They accessed discharge and other related data from these patients through the Youth Addiction Treatment Evaluation Project (YATEP).
  • The study design implemented was an intention-to-treat design.
  • They split the subjects into two groups, with one receiving conventional treatment (n = 43), and the other receiving the conventional treatment plus HAT (n = 65).
  • The researchers used both univariate and multivariate analyses to compare the responses from the two groups.

Results

  • The baseline characteristics of the two participating groups were similar, despite the lack of randomization.
  • However, the group that was subjected to HAT recorded a higher number of completions of treatment, stayed in treatment longer, and had a higher likelihood of completing their treatment program than those who didn’t receive HAT.
  • Even after discarding the time spent in treatment and controlling confounding factors like age, sex, education, number and severity of substances used, psychological distress, and the number of temporary exits, the HAT group demonstrated an 8.4 odds ratio for treatment completion compared to the group that didn’t participate in HAT.

Conclusion

  • There was a statistically significant relationship between HAT participation and treatment duration, as well as treatment completion.
  • This relationship, however, does not necessarily imply causality. Despite this, the study offers supportive evidence for the effectiveness of this innovative therapy.
  • The researchers recommend further research into HAT’s inclusivity in substance use disorder treatment, indicating its potential benefits.

Cite This Article

APA
Kern-Godal A, Arnevik EA, Walderhaug E, Ravndal E. (2015). Substance use disorder treatment retention and completion: a prospective study of horse-assisted therapy (HAT) for young adults. Addict Sci Clin Pract, 10, 21. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13722-015-0043-4

Publication

Addiction science & clinical practice
ISSN: 1940-0640
NlmUniqueID: 101316917
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 10
Pages: 21
PII: 21

Researcher Affiliations

Kern-Godal, Ann
  • Department of Addiction Treatment, Oslo University Hospital, Sognsvannsveien 21, Building 22, 0424, Oslo, Norway. ann@godal.com.
Arnevik, Espen Ajo
  • Department of Addiction Treatment, Oslo University Hospital, Sognsvannsveien 21, Building 22, 0424, Oslo, Norway. esarne@ous-hf.no.
  • Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway. esarne@ous-hf.no.
Walderhaug, Espen
  • Department of Addiction Treatment, Oslo University Hospital, Sognsvannsveien 21, Building 22, 0424, Oslo, Norway. espwal@ous-hf.no.
Ravndal, Edle
  • Norwegian Centre for Addiction Research (SERAF), University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway. edle.ravndal@medisin.uio.no.

MeSH Terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Animals
  • Complementary Therapies / methods
  • Female
  • Horses
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mental Health
  • Norway
  • Patient Discharge
  • Prospective Studies
  • Quality of Life
  • Substance-Related Disorders / therapy
  • Time Factors
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Young Adult

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Citations

This article has been cited 11 times.
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