Background:Evidence-based treatments for service-related health conditions such as posttraumatic stress disorder(PTSD),depression,and traumatic brain injury(TBI)are not effective for all veterans.Equine-assisted inter...Background:Evidence-based treatments for service-related health conditions such as posttraumatic stress disorder(PTSD),depression,and traumatic brain injury(TBI)are not effective for all veterans.Equine-assisted interventions are emerging as an additional treatment modality,but little is known regarding the safe and effective delivery of these interventions.This study aimed to describe the following features of the body of literature concerning equineassisted interventions among veterans:1)veterans who have participated in equine-assisted interventions;2)specific characteristics of equine-assisted interventions in veterans;and 3)the specific characteristics of research on equineassisted interventions in veterans.Methods:We conducted a systematic mapping review of peer-reviewed literature reporting on equine-assisted interventions among veterans between 1980 and 2017.Searches of nine databases yielded 3336 unique records,six of which met the inclusion criteria and were reviewed.Data relevant to the study aims were extracted and analyzed.Results:Equine-assisted interventions among veterans disproportionately targeted psychosocial outcomes and yielded promising results.The detailed methods of EAI varied in the reported studies,ranging from communicating with the horse to mounted exercises.There was also great diversity in outcome measurement.The state of theoretical development regarding the mechanisms by which equine-assisted interventions benefit the veteran population is currently underdeveloped.Studies provided insufficient detail with respect to the description of the intervention,reasons for attrition,and the dose-response relationship.Conclusions:Scientific development of equine-assisted interventions targeting psychosocial outcomes among veterans is warranted to establish their efficacy.Targeted outcomes should be expanded,including outcomes more closely aligned with the nature of polytraumatic injuries.Future research must also emphasize the theoretical development of equine-assisted interventions for veterans and thoroughly describe the participants,components of the intervention,factors contributing to attrition,and optimal dose-response relationships.展开更多
Therapeutic horseback riding(THR)as an animal-assisted intervention is one of the innovative approaches emer-ging in the treatment for children with autism spectrum disorder(ASD).The current study was designed to inve...Therapeutic horseback riding(THR)as an animal-assisted intervention is one of the innovative approaches emer-ging in the treatment for children with autism spectrum disorder(ASD).The current study was designed to inves-tigate the effects of a 12-week,twice a week THR program on motor skills in sixty-eight children with ASD aged 5–10 years old.All participants selected met the DSM-V criteria for ASD,and a total offifty-three participants completed the study.A randomized controlled trial design was utilized for the study.Data was collected via a pre-THR test,interim-THR test,and post-THR test to investigate the possible changes in motor skills throughout the 12-week THR program.Results showed that the THR program significantly improved overall motor skills across time points(p<0.05)and sub-skills of run,gallop and two-hand catch(as compared to the control group,p<0.05).In conclusion,the THR program may be an effective option for improving motor skills in children with ASD and further investigation with a longer period of intervention is warranted.展开更多
基金funded by the Carl and Caroline Swanson FoundationSupport was also provided through philanthropic support of the New Start for Student Veterans program by a private donor。
文摘Background:Evidence-based treatments for service-related health conditions such as posttraumatic stress disorder(PTSD),depression,and traumatic brain injury(TBI)are not effective for all veterans.Equine-assisted interventions are emerging as an additional treatment modality,but little is known regarding the safe and effective delivery of these interventions.This study aimed to describe the following features of the body of literature concerning equineassisted interventions among veterans:1)veterans who have participated in equine-assisted interventions;2)specific characteristics of equine-assisted interventions in veterans;and 3)the specific characteristics of research on equineassisted interventions in veterans.Methods:We conducted a systematic mapping review of peer-reviewed literature reporting on equine-assisted interventions among veterans between 1980 and 2017.Searches of nine databases yielded 3336 unique records,six of which met the inclusion criteria and were reviewed.Data relevant to the study aims were extracted and analyzed.Results:Equine-assisted interventions among veterans disproportionately targeted psychosocial outcomes and yielded promising results.The detailed methods of EAI varied in the reported studies,ranging from communicating with the horse to mounted exercises.There was also great diversity in outcome measurement.The state of theoretical development regarding the mechanisms by which equine-assisted interventions benefit the veteran population is currently underdeveloped.Studies provided insufficient detail with respect to the description of the intervention,reasons for attrition,and the dose-response relationship.Conclusions:Scientific development of equine-assisted interventions targeting psychosocial outcomes among veterans is warranted to establish their efficacy.Targeted outcomes should be expanded,including outcomes more closely aligned with the nature of polytraumatic injuries.Future research must also emphasize the theoretical development of equine-assisted interventions for veterans and thoroughly describe the participants,components of the intervention,factors contributing to attrition,and optimal dose-response relationships.
基金funded by Guangdong Planning Office of Philosophy and Social Science(General Project in 2021,No.GD21CTY02)Shenzhen University Young Teachers Research Initiation Project(No.20210402)+1 种基金This study is supported by Start-Up Research Grant of Shenzhen University(20200807163056003)Start-Up Research Grant(Peacock Plan:20191105534C).
文摘Therapeutic horseback riding(THR)as an animal-assisted intervention is one of the innovative approaches emer-ging in the treatment for children with autism spectrum disorder(ASD).The current study was designed to inves-tigate the effects of a 12-week,twice a week THR program on motor skills in sixty-eight children with ASD aged 5–10 years old.All participants selected met the DSM-V criteria for ASD,and a total offifty-three participants completed the study.A randomized controlled trial design was utilized for the study.Data was collected via a pre-THR test,interim-THR test,and post-THR test to investigate the possible changes in motor skills throughout the 12-week THR program.Results showed that the THR program significantly improved overall motor skills across time points(p<0.05)and sub-skills of run,gallop and two-hand catch(as compared to the control group,p<0.05).In conclusion,the THR program may be an effective option for improving motor skills in children with ASD and further investigation with a longer period of intervention is warranted.
