GRIT KÄMING
The Effectiveness of the Use of Therapeutic Riding in Child- And Adolescent Psychiatry: First Results of a Systematic Single Case Study
Aim
The objective of the study was to determine the impact of therapeutic riding on children and adolescents presenting with a variety of child psychiatric symptoms. The focus was on measuring changes in a number of different areas, such as the form and severity of specific symptoms; family relationship patterns; levels of children's concentration and attention spans, as well as their physical coordination.
Methodology
13 child psychiatric out-patients between the ages of 10 - 14 participated in the study. There were two separate assessments, before and after the intervention (riding), permitting a sequential analysis of the data. Prior to the intervention standardized psychological test procedures were used. For the purpose of undertaking the sequential analysis, individual symptom questionnaires were filled in on a daily basis over the course of the whole study, by each the patient and by one of the parents. Each patient took part in the therapeutic riding sessions on 10 occasions, one hour each week.
Results
Following the intervention there was a marked improvement in the subjects' ability to concentrate as well as in their body coordination. It also became evident that there was an increase in the emotional connectedness between the patients and their parents. The child psychiatric symptoms of all patients were reduced to varying degrees. With regard to the initial presenting symptoms, it was shown that therapeutic riding had more positive effects on children presenting with anxiety and conduct disorders, than it had on children presenting with ADHD.
Discussion