Pilot Study Adapting EAT-PTSD for Anxious Youth
Stopped early · Not applicable
Conditions studied: Anxiety Disorder of Childhood or Adolescence
In brief
The purpose of this research protocol is to adapt the Equine Assisted Therapy (EAT) protocol, which the investigators had developed to help treat PTSD (EAT-PTSD; the Man O' War (MOW) protocol), for use with adolescents who have an anxiety disorder. The MOW protocol is an eight session, group therapy EAT protocol, which the investigators developed, piloted, revised, and tested. EAT is an alternative treatment practiced across the United States and around the world for mental health disorders, in which the horse(s) play an essential role in an experientially oriented therapeutic approach. The MOW protocol is for group EAT, with groups led by a licensed mental health provider and an "equine specialist," working with two horses and assisted by a wrangler (horse handler) to assure safety. In the open trial, the MOW protocol showed promising results in reducing the level of PTSD and Depressive symptoms in veterans with moderate to severe PTSD, was found to be safe (no adverse events), and well accepted (very few dropouts (Fisher et al., 2021)) and found evidence of neural changes (Zhu et al, 2021). As part of the MOW project, the investigators prepared a well specified treatment manual (Fisher et al, 2021) - the first of its kind in the field of EAT - and have trained others in its use.
Key facts
- Study ID
- NCT05298397
- Run by
- New York State Psychiatric Institute
- People needed
- 4
- Starts
- 2022-04-29
- Expected to finish
- 2022-11-23
- Last updated by the study team
- 2025-07-17
Who can join
Age: 13 and older, up to 17. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.
You may qualify if…
- Youth ages 13-17
- Youth lives with parent
- English speaking (youth and parent) who reside in Westchester, Putnam, Rockland, Bronx, or Manhattan Counties (in New York) OR in Connecticut
- Youth does not have a current substance use problem
- Youth is available for an "after school" group at time the EAT sessions are scheduled
- Parent understands that participation does not affect place on clinic waiting list
- Parent will be able to provide/assure transportation to equestrian center, etc.
- Current diagnosis of Social Anxiety Disorder, Separation Anxiety Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, or Unspecified Anxiety Disorder
- Parent understands the protocol, agrees to their responsibilities (providing transport, scheduling sessions), and is able to give consent
- Youth understands the protocol and consents (if age 18) or assents (if younger than age 18) of their own free will
You may not qualify if…
- Elevated depression, PTSD, or OCD symptoms of clinical concern
- Elevated risk for suicide/suicidal behavior based on history and current mental state
- Extreme fear of horses
- Orthopedic or other physical limitation that would prevent youth from walking unassessed and/or walking freely in ring
- Acute, unstable, or severe medical disorder (that might prohibit completing the 8 session protocol)
Where it is running
- 1051 Riverside Drive — New York, New York, United States
- New York State Psychiatric Institute — New York, New York, United States
Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov
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