Equine-assisted psychotherapy: a mental health promotion/intervention modality for children who have experienced intra-family violence

Equine-assisted psychotherapy (EAP) is a specialized form of psychotherapy using the horse as a therapeutic tool. This modality is designed to address self-esteem and personal confidence, communication and interpersonal effectiveness, trust, boundaries and limit-setting, and group cohesion. Substantial numbers of children witness family violence. There is evidence that violence between parents has adverse effects on the children in the family. These children are at greater risk of behavioural problems and mental health disorders, including anxiety, anger, depression and suicidal ideations, withdrawal, low self-esteem, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The purpose of the present pilot study was to test the efficacy of EAP in a cross-sectional group of children referred to a psychotherapist for various childhood behavioural and mental health issues over an 18-month period (June 2003-January 2005). Sixty-three children received a mean number of 19 EAP sessions. Scores on the Children's Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) Scale were determined pre- and posttreatment. The mean (+/- standard deviation, SD) pretreatment score was 54.1 (SD 3.2) and post treatment mean score was 61.7 +/- 5.0 (t = 9.06, d.f. = 96, P < 0.001). All children showed improvement in GAF scores, and there was a statistically significant correlation between the percentage improvement in the GAF scores and the number of sessions given (r = 0.73, P = 0.001). Univariate analysis showed that the greatest improvement in the GAF scores occurred in the youngest of the subjects. Children in the group who had a history of physical abuse and neglect had a statistically significant greater percentage improvement in GAF scores after treatment than those who did not have a history of abuse and neglect. This study has demonstrated a quick response to EAP, especially in younger children, but it remains to be determined what kind of long-term effects this type of intervention may provide.

马辅助心理治疗（EAP）是一种将马作为治疗工具的特殊心理治疗形式。这种治疗模式旨在解决自尊和个人自信、沟通和人际交往能力、信任、边界和界限设定以及群体凝聚力等问题。大量儿童目睹家庭暴力。有证据表明，父母之间的暴力行为对家庭中的儿童有不良影响。这些儿童出现行为问题和心理健康障碍的风险更大，包括焦虑、愤怒、抑郁和自杀念头、孤僻、自卑以及注意缺陷多动障碍。本项初步研究的目的是在一个为期18个月（2003年6月 - 2005年1月）因各种儿童行为和心理健康问题被转介给心理治疗师的儿童横断面群体中测试EAP的疗效。63名儿童平均接受了19次EAP治疗。在治疗前后确定儿童整体功能评估（GAF）量表的得分。治疗前平均（±标准差，SD）得分是54.1（SD 3.2），治疗后平均得分是61.7 ± 5.0（t = 9.06，自由度 = 96，P < 0.001）。所有儿童的GAF得分都有所提高，并且GAF得分的提高百分比与治疗次数之间存在统计学上的显著相关性（r = 0.73，P = 0.001）。单变量分析显示，GAF得分提高最大的是年龄最小的受试者。在有身体虐待和忽视史的儿童组中，治疗后GAF得分提高的百分比在统计学上显著高于没有虐待和忽视史的儿童。这项研究表明对EAP有快速反应，尤其是在年幼的儿童中，但这种干预可能产生何种长期影响仍有待确定。