title: Psychosocial Equine Program for Veterans.
abstract: Nearly half of all combat veterans suffer from serious psychological disorders and reintegration issues. Veterans shy away from typical talk therapy and are seeking alternative treatments. Equine-facilitated mental health therapy has shown promise in treating veterans with depressive and anxiety disorders and reintegration issues. This article reports on an institutional review board-approved pilot program designed to address the mental health needs of veterans. Furthermore, this article discusses future directions for evolving development of equine treatment programming.
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Ferruolo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D056147:Equine-Assisted Therapy; D005260:Female; D006736:Horses; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D012947:Social Work / Q000458:organization & administration*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology*