Effects of Therapeutic Horseback Riding on Children and Adolescents with Autism S

描述（由申请人提供）：治疗性骑马（THR）经常被寻求作为解决行为障碍的替代治疗，这些行为障碍通常会损害自闭症谱系障碍（ASD）患者的日常生活质量；然而，只有少数已发表的基于证据的THR研究可以指导临床医生和消费者。本研究旨在扩展我们的初步研究结果，即与10周等待名单对照组相比，参与10周治疗性骑马的ASD参与者在自我调节、沟通和运动技能方面有显著改善。本研究将尝试通过检查更大的样本和使用随机对照设计来复制这些试点研究结果以及最近一项THR研究的社会动机研究结果。此外，它将测试人类与动物的相互作用是否对初步研究中观察到的重大变化是必要的。这个问题将通过比较ASD参与者每周参加10小时的治疗性骑马（n = 40）和马厩活动对照组（n = 40）来检验，后者的治疗目标和控制时间和注意力效果相同，但没有人与动物的相互作用。干预前和干预后的评估将评估参与者的自我调节、沟通、社交和运动功能。该研究的第二个目的是确定参与10周治疗性骑马的改善是否在THR干预后持续约6个月。本研究项目的优势包括使用随机对照设计，基于活动的对照组，从我们的试点项目中开发的特定THR干预课程，结果评估者对参与者的干预情况进行盲法评估，家长和教师的结果评级，以及先前与长期（29年）干预站点开发的合作。这个骑马中心被NARHA认证为“首演”中心，NARHA是一个国家认证机构，坚持行业中人类和动物安全的最高标准，以及涉及治疗过程的所有生物的道德标准。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Therapeutic horseback riding (THR) is frequently sought out as an alternative treatment to address the behavioral disturbances that often impair the quality of daily life for individuals with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD); however, there are only a few published evidence-based THR studies to guide clinicians and consumers. This study aims to expand on our pilot study findings of significant improvements in self-regulation, communication, and motor skills for ASD participants involved in 10-weeks of therapeutic horseback riding compared to a 10-week waitlist control group. This proposed study will attempt to replicate these pilot findings as well as the social motivation findings from a recent THR study by examining a larger sample and using a randomized control design. Furthermore, it will test whether the human-animal interaction is necessary for the significant changes observed in the pilot study. This question will be examined by comparing ASD participants' involvement in 10 hours of weekly therapeutic horseback riding (n = 40) to a barn activity control group (n = 40) that targets the same therapeutic goals and controls for time and attention effects, but has no human-animal interaction. Pre-and post intervention evaluations will assess participants' self-regulation, communication, socialization, and motor functioning. A secondary aim of the study is to determine if improvements made as a result of involvement in 10-weeks of therapeutic horseback riding persist approximately six months beyond the THR intervention. The strengths of this research project include the use of a randomized controlled design, an activity-based control group, a specific THR intervention curriculum developed from our pilot project, outcome evaluators blinded to participants' intervention condition, parent and teacher outcome ratings, and previously-developed collaboration with a long-standing (29 years) intervention site. This riding center site is certified as a "Premiere" center by the NARHA, a national accrediting agency that adheres to the highest standards in the industry for human and animal safety and ethical standards for all living beings involved in the treatment process. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: There are a large number of families of children with an ASD that seek this intervention, even though there is little evidence base. Determining if and how the human-animal interaction via THR is helpful to individuals with an ASD has far-reaching implications for the quality of life in this ASD population and their caregivers. THR is less invasive than the use of medications to treat symptoms such as irritability and hyperactivity, critical areas that impact the child's ability to function successfully in home and school environments.