Equine-Assisted Therapeutic Interventions Among Individuals Diagnosed With Schizophrenia. A Systematic Review

Jormfeldt, H. and Carlsson, I. M.

Issues Ment Health Nurs (2018) 39: 647–656

DOI: 10.1080/01612840.2018.1440450

Abstract

Persons diagnosed with schizophrenia are not sufficiently offered health promotion interventions, notwithstanding their increased risk of bodily ill health. Physical activity is found to improve health and decrease psychiatric symptoms although, there is a challenge to motivate and increase physical activity in people with schizophrenia and innovative evidence-based treatment interventions are needed. The aim was to systematically review studies concerning equine assisted interventions among individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia. The findings of the six included articles indicate that therapeutic equine assisted interventions could be beneficial for individuals with severe mental illness such as schizophrenia or schizophrenia like disorders.

Citation

Jormfeldt, H., & Carlsson, I. M. (2018). Equine-Assisted Therapeutic Interventions Among Individuals Diagnosed With Schizophrenia. A Systematic Review. Issues Ment Health Nurs, 39(8), 647–656. https://doi.org/10.1080/01612840.2018.1440450 Adult, Humans, *Equine-Assisted Therapy, Schizophrenia/*therapy

Keywords

• Adult
• Humans
• *Equine-Assisted Therapy
• Schizophrenia/*therapy