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Completed

NCT Number: NCT02891421

Therapeutic Horsemanship in Veterans

The project partnered with U.S. military veterans with a premier accredited therapeutic riding center for six weeks. The veterans interacted with horses by grooming and learning about them, as well as riding them for one hour per week during which they gained a variety of skills. We hoped the veterans would experience a reduction in Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms, depression, and loneliness, while improving their social and emotional health and self-efficacy.

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Key information

Conditions

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Brain Diseases Brain Injuries Brain Injuries, Traumatic Central Nervous System Diseases Craniocerebral Trauma Mental Disorders Nervous System Diseases Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders, Traumatic Trauma and Stressor Related Disorders Trauma, Nervous System Traumatic Brain Injury Wounds and Injuries

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

About this study

Large numbers of post-deployed U.S. veterans diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and/or Traumatic Brain Injury make effective interventions urgent, to reduce symptoms and increase veterans' coping. PTSD includes anxiety, flashbacks, and emotional numbing. Symptoms expand health care costs for stress-related illnesses making veterans' civilian life difficult.

The proposed study used a randomized experimental design with repeated measures and waitlist control group testing the efficacy of a 6-week human-horse interaction and systematic therapeutic horseback riding program in: decreasing PTSD symptoms, increasing coping self efficacy, emotion regulation, and social engagement. The Riding Group spent one hour weekly interacting with and riding the same horse at one of two PATH-accredited riding centers in Mid-Missouri supervised by an Occupational Therapist, Profession Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship (PATH) International-certified instructor, leader and side walkers as needed. Riding was directed by a systematic lesson plan. Data collection occured at baseline, 3 weeks, and 6 weeks. The Control Group was assessed at the same intervals and again 3 weeks and 6 weeks after joining the Riding Group.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Age 18 years or older
  • Veterans, left active military service (not serving in reserve units.)
  • Diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder/Traumatic Brain Injury or both according to ICD-9 diagnostic codes.
  • Weight less than 220 pounds.
  • Able to walk at least 25 feet without the assistance of a person (but potentially with assistive devices).
  • Willing to interact with and ride a horse.
  • Have not ridden a horse in the past year.
  • Care Provider assent

Exclusion criteria

  • Age less than 18 years
  • Veterans in active military service (including reserve units).
  • No diagnosis of PTSD/TBI or both according to ICD-9 diagnostic codes.
  • Weight greater than 221 pounds.
  • Unable to walk at least 25 feet without the assistance of a person (but potentially with assistive devices.)
  • Unwilling to interact with and ride a horse.
  • Have been riding a horse in the past year.
  • Care Provider unwilling to provide assent

Treatment and study plan

Therapeutic Horseback Riding

Behavioral

Veterans were matched to a horse for best fit and the same horse was ridden each week. The warm-up exercises involved various repeated physical movements while the horse was walking or standing steady, such as head rotations, lifting arms, rotating ankles, flexing toes. The exercises began with riding at a walk during the early weeks, learning reining skills and riding positions, and progressed to light trotting. Veteran participants were able to build on skill sets related to grooming, tacking, mounting, and riding that were introduced in prior weeks. Skill progression was based on individual abilities and safety as determined by certified riding instructor and occupational therapist.

Standard care

Other

Standard Care: Participants received standard care

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in Coping Self-Efficacy Scale (CSES)

    Time frame: Day 1, 3 weeks and 6 weeks

    26 item, 11 point analog scale

  2. Change in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist-Military Version (PCL-M)

    Time frame: Day 1, 3 weeks and 6 weeks

    17 item, 5 point scale

Secondary outcomes

  1. Change in Social and Emotional Loneliness Scale for Adults (SELSA) scale

    Time frame: Day 1, 3 weeks and 6 weeks

    15 item, 7 point Likert-type scale.

  2. Change in Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS)

    Time frame: Day 1, 3 weeks and 6 weeks

    36 item, 5 point Likert-type scale

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Missouri-Columbia

Other

Collaborators

  • Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans' Hospital
  • Horses and Humans Research Foundation

Registry information

Official study title

Effects of Equine Assisted Activities on PTSD Symptoms, Coping Self-efficacy, Emotion Regulation, and Social Engagement in U.S. Military Veterans

Important dates

Study start
2013
Primary completion
2015
Study completion
2015
First posted
Sep 7, 2016
Registry last updated
Sep 7, 2016

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

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This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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