ABSTRACT Adolescents with serious emotional disturbances (SED) are a particularly difficult population to treat owing to high comorbidity rates of anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress, and behavioral conduct disorders. The current study compared the effectiveness of equine-facilitated psychotherapy (EFP) and traditional group therapy (TGT) on levels of positive and negative affect in adolescents with SED. We hypothesized that participants would have higher overall positive affect after EFP compared with TGT and that negative affect would be significantly lower after EFP compared with TGT. Adolescents with SED participated in EFP and TGT sessions once a week over an 8-week period in addition to normative treatment. The Positive and Negative Affect Scale was administered immediately before and after the sessions. Statistical analyses revealed that EFP was just as effective as TGT in increasing positive affect and decreasing negative affect. More importantly, participants had significantly higher positive affect before and after EFP compared with TGT. Even though positive affect scores improved in both therapies, participants arrived to and left EFP with significantly higher positive affect scores than those attending TGT. Owing to its effect on positive affect, EFP may be a beneficial alternative to traditional therapies for adolescents with SED.

中文翻译：

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马助心理治疗对严重情绪障碍青少年的有效性

摘要 患有严重情绪障碍 (SED) 的青少年由于焦虑、抑郁、创伤后压力和行为行为障碍的高共病率而成为特别难以治疗的人群。目前的研究比较了马辅助心理治疗 (EFP) 和传统团体治疗 (TGT) 对 SED 青少年正面和负面影响水平的有效性。我们假设与 TGT 相比，EFP 后参与者的总体积极影响更高，而 EFP 后的消极影响与 TGT 相比显着降低。除了规范治疗外，患有 SED 的青少年在 8 周内每周参加一次 EFP 和 TGT 课程。积极和消极影响量表在会议之前和之后立即进行管理。统计分析表明，EFP 在增加积极影响和减少消极影响方面与 TGT 一样有效。更重要的是，与 TGT 相比，参与者在 EFP 前后具有显着更高的积极影响。尽管两种疗法的积极情绪得分都有所提高，但参与者到达和离开 EFP 时的积极情绪得分明显高于参加 TGT 的参与者。由于其对积极情绪的影响，EFP 可能是 SED 青少年传统疗法的有益替代品。参与者到达和离开 EFP 时的积极情绪得分明显高于参加 TGT 的参与者。由于其对积极情绪的影响，EFP 可能是 SED 青少年传统疗法的有益替代品。参与者到达和离开 EFP 时的积极情绪得分明显高于参加 TGT 的参与者。由于其对积极情绪的影响，EFP 可能是 SED 青少年传统疗法的有益替代品。