Equine-Assisted Therapy in Post-Traumatic-Stress Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Authors: Palomar-Ciria Nora, Bello Hugo J
Journal: Journal of equine veterinary science
Summary
# Editorial Summary Equine-assisted services (EAS)—structured interventions combining psychotherapy or occupational therapy with horse interaction—have emerged as a potentially valuable complement to conventional PTSD treatment, though robust evidence remains limited. Palomar-Ciria and Bello conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of peer-reviewed studies assessing EAS efficacy in PTSD, identifying five randomised controlled trials that utilised the PCL-5 (PTSD Checklist for DSM-5) as their primary outcome measure, alongside ten additional qualitative studies exploring broader therapeutic outcomes. The quantitative analysis demonstrated statistically significant reductions in PTSD symptomatology following EAS interventions, with improvements consistently documented across the included studies, though effect sizes and specific numerical reductions varied. Whilst these findings suggest genuine therapeutic benefit in the short term, the authors emphasise critical gaps in standardisation across EAS protocols—including dosage, duration, horse selection criteria, and therapist training—which currently prevent definitive claims about optimal implementation. For equine professionals involved in therapeutic work, this review underscores both the promise of horse-assisted interventions and the urgent need for greater rigour in programme design and outcome measurement before EAS can be confidently integrated into evidence-based PTSD management protocols.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •Equine-Assisted Services including psychotherapy and occupational therapy show promise as adjunctive treatments for PTSD in short-term interventions
- •Lack of standardization across EAS programs means practitioners should seek evidence-based protocols and work collaboratively with mental health professionals
- •Current evidence supports EAS for PTSD but warrants caution about long-term outcomes until larger, more rigorous studies are conducted
Key Findings
- •Meta-analysis of 5 studies using PCL-5 assessment showed significant reduction in PTSD symptoms with Equine-Assisted Services
- •Qualitative synthesis of 10 studies demonstrated improvements in PTSD symptoms and related variables
- •Equine-Assisted Services show beneficial effects for post-traumatic symptoms in short-term follow-up periods
- •Further research and standardization of EAS protocols are needed to establish robust evidence