Horse-assisted Intervention, Heart Rate Variability & Stress

The early recognition of chronic stressors, which are often neglected by those affected until physical symptoms appear, is of essential importance. In addition to psychopharmacological therapy modalities, complementary methods such as animal-assisted intervention should also be considered in order to expand the therapeutic spectrum and thus prevent stress-associated consequential harms as early as possible.

Stress has gained importance in recent years not only in the medical context, but also due to its economic relevance. Chronic stress in particular leads to numerous medically relevant secondary diseases and to increased sick leaves and even permanent incapacity to work. One possible intervention to reduce stress could be animal-assisted intervention.

Primary hypothesis: The use of animal-assisted intervention in people diagnosed with chronic stressful situations will lead to measurable increases in heart rate variability.

Secondary hypothesis: The use of animal-assisted intervention in people diagnosed with chronic stressful situations leads to improved well-being (target parameter: POMS questionnaire)

Inclusion criteria

• Male, female and diverse
• Age between 18-75 years

Exclusion criteria

• Animal hair allergies (especially horse hair allergies, fear of horses)
• Acute severe psychiatric conditions (e.g. psychosis)
• Persons, unable to give signed informed consent,
• All persons, who have not signed the informed consent form.