Investigating the Effects of Equine-Assisted Therapy in Individuals With Schizophrenia A Randomized Controlled Trial

Purpose: To examine the effectiveness of equine-assisted therapy on symptoms, quality of life, anxiety, and loneliness in individuals with schizophrenia. Method: A randomized controlled trial was conducted with individuals with schizophrenia registered at a community mental health center. The study involved 61 participants (30 in the intervention group, 31 in the control group). An 8-week equine-assisted therapeutic intervention was implemented for the intervention group. Data were collected using a Personal Information Form, the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), Trait Anxiety Inventory (TAI), Quality of Life Scale for Schizophrenia Patients (QLS), and UCLA Loneliness Scale (UCLA-LS). Data were analyzed using means, frequencies, percentage distributions, chi-square test, and dependent and independent samples t tests. Results: Statistically significant differences were found between pre- and post-test mean scores of the PANSS, TAI, UCLA-LS, and QLS in the intervention group (p < 0.05), and none were found in the control group (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Equine-assisted therapy effectively reduced symptoms, anxiety, and loneliness in individuals with schizophrenia, while improving their quality of life. [Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, xx(x), xx-xx.].

Journal

JOURNAL OF PSYCHOSOCIAL NURSING AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES

Year

2025

Volume

63

Issue

11

Pages

22-30

ISSN

0279-3695

eISSN

1938-2413

DOI

10.3928/02793695-20250415-05

WoS UID

WOS:001474113700001

Open via DOI