Horse Therapy for PTSD

(EAL Trial)

Not currently recruiting at 1 trial location

Overseen By Christina Chrysler, BA

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: McMaster University

Disqualifiers: Psychiatric, Neurodevelopmental, Neurological, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 16

Duration: 8 weeks

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores how horse therapy, known as Equine Assisted Learning, can reduce PTSD symptoms in public safety workers such as firefighters and police officers. Participants will engage in 16 sessions with horses, potentially offering a unique way to address trauma. Eligible participants must be current or former public safety personnel living in Saskatchewan, have experienced a traumatic event, and have access to the internet and a device with a camera and microphone. As an unphased study, this trial provides a unique opportunity to explore innovative therapy methods and contribute to groundbreaking research.

Do I need to stop my current medications for the horse therapy trial?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What prior data suggests that Equine Assisted Learning is safe for public safety personnel with PTSD?

Research has shown that Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) is safe for participants. In one study involving 18 people, staff, and horses, no injuries occurred over three months, indicating that EAL generally poses no harm. Another study with first responders also reported positive results without negative effects. While additional research is always beneficial, these findings suggest that EAL is a safe option for those considering participation in such programs. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Unlike the standard treatments for PTSD, which often include medications and traditional talk therapy, Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) offers a unique, hands-on approach. EAL involves interactions with horses, which can help participants build trust, improve emotional regulation, and develop coping skills in a supportive and non-judgmental environment. Researchers are excited about this method because it provides a novel, experiential form of therapy that could engage participants in ways conventional therapies might not, potentially leading to breakthroughs in how we treat PTSD.

What evidence suggests that Equine Assisted Learning is effective for PTSD?

Research has shown that working with horses can help reduce symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Studies have found that these therapies can significantly lower the severity of PTSD symptoms, especially in military veterans. Some evidence also suggests that equine therapy can enhance daily life and increase productivity. Although more research is needed, early results are promising for using horses in therapy. This trial will evaluate Equine Assisted Learning, with participants in the experimental group receiving 16 sessions facilitated by a trained clinician. This method may offer a unique way to support mental health recovery, particularly for those who have experienced trauma. ^{1 6 7 8 9}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Margaret McKinnon, PhD, CPsych

Principal Investigator

McMaster University

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for police officers, firefighters, paramedics, nurses, or emergency dispatchers who have been diagnosed with PTSD. Participants must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Those with suicidal tendencies or substance use issues that could interfere with participation, or those already in another PTSD intervention study cannot join.

Inclusion Criteria

Fully vaccinated against COVID-19

I have been diagnosed with PTSD.

Employed as a police officer, fire fighter, paramedic, nurse, or emergency dispatcher

Exclusion Criteria

Enrollment in another study investigating PTSD intervention efficacy

Suicidality

My substance use does not interfere with my participation in treatments.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Baseline Assessment

Participants complete initial baseline interviews and assessments

1 week

Treatment

Participants in the intervention group receive 16 sessions of Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) over 8 weeks

8 weeks

16 sessions (in-person)

Waitlist Control

Participants in the waitlist control group do not receive EAL during this period

8 weeks

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in trauma exposure symptom severity and other secondary outcomes

12 weeks

Open-label Extension

Participants in the waitlist control group are offered EAL following their completion of the study

8 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Equine Assisted Learning

Trial Overview The trial is testing Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) to see if it helps reduce symptoms of PTSD in public safety personnel. It's a randomized controlled trial (RCT), meaning participants are randomly assigned to receive EAL or not for comparison.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Equine Assisted Learning group Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants in this group will receive 16 sessions of Equine Assisted Learning (EAL), facilitated by a trained clinician at Cartier Farms.

Group II: Waitlist control group Active Control 1 Intervention

Participants in the waitlist control group will not receive EAL for the duration of the study.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

McMaster University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

936

Recruited

2,630,000+

University of Saskatchewan

Collaborator

Trials

261

Recruited

156,000+

University of Regina

Collaborator

Trials

59

Recruited

9,100+

Published Research Related to This Trial

A 6-week equine-assisted psychotherapy (EAP) program for veterans with PTSD showed similar improvements in PTSD symptoms and resilience compared to standard therapy, suggesting it may be an effective alternative treatment.

While both groups experienced significant reductions in PTSD symptoms and increases in resilience, there was no statistically significant difference in the outcomes between the EAP and control groups, indicating that EAP could be as beneficial as traditional therapies.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Efficacy of equine-assisted psychotherapy in veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder. Burton, LE., Qeadan, F., Burge, MR.[2020]

A study involving 63 veterans with PTSD showed that an 8-session group Equine-Assisted Therapy (EAT-PTSD) resulted in significant reductions in PTSD and depression symptoms, with improvements lasting up to 3 months after treatment.

The therapy was well-accepted, with only 8% of participants withdrawing, indicating its feasibility and potential as a safe intervention for veterans seeking help for PTSD.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Equine-Assisted Therapy for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Among Military Veterans: An Open Trial. Fisher, PW., Lazarov, A., Lowell, A., et al.[2021]

The newly developed eight-session equine-assisted therapy (EAT) protocol for PTSD was found to be safe and well-accepted by military veterans, with no reported adverse events and high treatment completion rates.

Preliminary results indicated significant reductions in PTSD and depressive symptoms post-treatment, with medium to large effect sizes, although these benefits did not persist at the 3-month follow-up.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Equine-Assisted Therapy for Veterans with PTSD: Manual Development and Preliminary Findings. Arnon, S., Fisher, PW., Pickover, A., et al.[2021]

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10654975/

Equine-assisted interventions for veterans with ... Equine-assisted intervention therapy has been shown to be effective, but further research is merited, in order to focus on the specific details ...

2. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0737080623006834

Equine-Assisted Therapy in Post-Traumatic-Stress Disorder In this work, we measured the effectiveness of EAS in PTSD through a meta-analysis. An intensive bibliography search focusing in EAS and PTSD was conducted ...

3. bmcpsychiatry.biomedcentral.com bmcpsychiatry.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12888-024-05984-w

Are equine-assisted services beneficial for military veterans ... EAS appeared to have a positive influence on PTSD symptoms in military veterans, significantly reducing PTSD severity scores.

4. journals.sagepub.com journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/00332941221146707

Equine-Assisted Therapy for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ... Preliminary evidence suggests that equine-assisted therapies may be helpful in reducing symptoms of PTSD in Veterans (Earles et al., 2015; ...

5. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30839068/

Equine Assisted Therapy for Patients with Post Traumatic ... The study demonstrated improved ability to work and perform daily tasks and reduction in the number of days of inefficiency. Further large-scale ...

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11437700/

Equine-Assisted Therapy for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ... Seven first responders participated in an 8-week, 90-minute, equine-assisted therapy program. Primary outcome measures (i.e., anxiety, depression, trauma, ...

7. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0965229922001133

A pilot observational study of horsemanship skills training ... There were no injuries among the 18 participants, 6 staff, or 11 equines over the 3 months of the study. Eleven of 12 (92 %) planned intervention sessions ...

8. academic.oup.com academic.oup.com/milmed/article/189/1-2/e220/7234016

A Pilot Replication Study of Implementing an Equine-Assisted ... The first aim of this study was to replicate the previous study assessing the safety, feasibility, and preliminary outcomes of this intervention.

9. research.aota.org research.aota.org/ajot/article/73/4_Supplement_1/7311515369p1/9122/The-Lived-Experiences-of-Equine-Assisted

The Lived Experiences of Equine-Assisted Activities and ... Equine assisted therapy reduces symptoms in veterans with post traumatic stress disorder. Journal of Investigative Medicine, 63 (1) 165. O-Haire, M.E. ...