(PS13-90) Efficacy of Equine-assisted Intervention Program with Women Victims of Gender Violence

Scientific evidence exists that psychological interventions applied with the support of animals are very useful in people with psychological, neurological, and other physical and/or mental problems. Specifically, equine-assisted therapies have shown to be practical in treatment of those suffering various types of abuse and who present symptoms of depression and/or anxiety.

Aims: to evaluate the effectiveness of the “Take the Reins” program on depression and anxiety symptoms in a sample of women victims of gender violence.

Method: The program comprises 8 two-hour sessions, on a weekly basis at the “El Valle” Equestrian Centre for Environmental Education, in the Region of Murcia, Spain. The sample consisted of a group of 40 female victims of gender violence, whose sons and daughters had been referred to a child mental health service specialising in the “I Want to Grow” Association. The State/Trait Anxiety Questionnaire (STAI) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) were applied at the beginning and end of treatment.

Results: Variations in the general and specific scales of both tests were analysed in the pre- and post-treatment measures, finding significant differences in the total scale of the BDI and in the State Anxiety subscale of the STAI.

Conclusions: AAT with horses as support in treatment of women victims of gender violence increases the effectiveness of intervention by reducing anxiety-depressive symptoms.