Equine Assisted Psychotherapy and EUPD (version 2)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Exploring the effectiveness of Equine Assisted Psychotherapy on the emotional regulation and mental wellbeing of service users in an inpatient setting who have received a diagnosis of Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder.
IRAS ID
364995
Contact name
Sharon Collins
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Cygnet Healthcare Ltd
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 4 months, 5 days
Research summary
The purpose of this research is for the multi-disciplinary team at an inpatient psychiatric hospital to investigate more innovative ways to engage service users in order to promote wellbeing and emotional regulation. In particular, there is a focus on engaging patients who do not routinely engage with the Psychology Team. As such, we are aiming to explore the effectiveness of Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) with the service users on Knightstone Ward (a specialist Personality Disorder ward).
EAP is the deliberate inclusion of an equine (e.g. horse, alpaca) amongst a therapy team to improve patient outcomes. This therapy team includes a mental health professional and a certified equine specialist, along with horse(s) and client(s). EAP can offer specific psychotherapeutic treatment goals such as addressing trauma and emotion dysregulation. The presence of an equine removes the need for verbal communication, allowing for non-verbal approaches that support self-development; identifying and discussing the feelings, emotions and behaviours generated through interaction with the horse. The presence of an equine also provides a unique opportunity for traumatised individuals to build trust with other sentient beings that value connection, safety, and trust.
These specific psychotherapeutic treatment goals are especially relevant for those with a diagnosis of Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder (EUPD). Service users with EUPD present with complex mental health difficulties, often with problems with emotional regulation, attachment, and self-harm.
This research will use a qualitative design in which all participants (inpatients with a Emotionally Unstable personality Disorder diagnosis) engage in a novel psychotherapeutic intervention (6 sessions of Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy). Their experiences of this psychotherapeutic intervention will be explored using semi-structured interviews. Researchers and the service users involved in the research will collaborate in using Thematic Analysis to analyse the content of these interviews.
REC name
London - Stanmore Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
26/LO/0192
Date of REC Opinion
6 May 2026
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion