J Korean Neuropsychiatr Assoc.  2015 Feb;54(1):112-118. 10.4306/jknpa.2015.54.1.112.

The Effect of Hippotherapy and Medication on Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: A Pilot Study

• Song J
• Jang B
• Kim J
• Lee J
• Shin HY
• Oh Y
• Lee K
• Kim S
• Kim YH
• Kwon JY
• Joung YS

• KMID: 2344006
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4306/jknpa.2015.54.1.112

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
This study researched the clinical effects of hippotherapy and medication in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) children.
METHODS
The study employed an open label randomized controlled trial. Participants were 10 children of ages between 6 and 12 years. These subjects were placed in 2 groups : the hippotherapy group and the medication group. Evaluation tools used in this study include Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia-Present and Lifetime Version- Korean Version, the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-IV, Korean Child Behavior Check List (K-CBCL), ADHD rating scale (ARS), Clinical Global Impression (CGI), and Quantitative electroencephalography (QEEG).
RESULTS
Grossly scores of investigator-administered ADHD rating scale (ARS-I), K-CBCL, and CGI-Severity of Illness scale were improved in both the hippotherapy and the medication group. The ARS-I scores of the Hippotherapy group were not significantly different from baseline after 12 weeks. In the QEEG, theta/beta ratio of Pz area in the hippotherapy group was significantly different from baseline. Children treated with medication showed significant difference from baseline in ARS-I, K-CBCL subscales, and QEEG.
CONCLUSION
The use of hippotherapy could be a viable treatment strategy as a part of a multimodal therapy for children with ADHD. This pilot study provides good prospects for future studies to document these positive trends on larger samples.

Keyword

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; Hippotherapy; Psychostimulant; Quantitative electroencephalography

MeSH Terms

Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity*
Child Behavior
Child*
Electroencephalography
Equine-Assisted Therapy*
Humans
Intelligence
Mood Disorders
Pilot Projects*

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