Non conventional psychiatric rehabilitation in schizophrenia using therapeutic riding: the FISE multicentre Pindar project

Ann Ist Super Sanita. 2011;47(4):409-14. doi: 10.4415/ANN_11_04_13.

Abstract

The FISE (Federazione Italiana Sport Equestri) Pindar is a multicentre research project aimed at testing the potential effects of therapeutic riding on schizophrenic patients. Twenty-four subjects with a diagnosis of schizophrenia were enrolled for a 1 year-treatment involving therapeutic riding sessions. All subjects were tested at the beginning and at the end of treatment with a series of validated test batteries (BPRS and 8 items-PANSS). The results discussed in this paper point out an improvement in negative symptoms, a constant disease remission in both early onset and chronic disease subjects, as well as a reduced rate of hospitalization.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Multicenter Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Equine-Assisted Therapy / methods*
  • Female
  • Hospitalization / statistics & numerical data
  • Humans
  • Italy
  • Male
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
  • Schizophrenia / rehabilitation*
  • Schizophrenia / therapy*
  • Schizophrenic Psychology
  • Young Adult