Eagala Model Intervention/Veterans - Dr. Marchand

Presenter Name: William Marchand, MD, board certified psychiatrist, licensed in the state of UT. Eagala MH, PATH Intl. CTRI & ESMHL, CHA EWI and EFM.

Introduction/background: Equine-assisted services (EAS) are increasingly being offered to veterans by community and Veterans Administration affiliated programs. A variety of EAS intervention models are being used, including the Eagala model. Research can support the use of Eagala model interventions for this population by providing evidence of benefit to policy makers. The first aim of this presentation is to provide an overview of the current state of research supporting the use of EAS for veterans in general. The second aim is to outline and discuss research opportunities and challenges relevant to future investigations of the Eagala model for this population. Methods: A literature review of studies of EAS for Veterans was conducted and published in 2023. Results: Twenty-three studies were published in the literature. Of these, only three had a control group and only one was a randomized trial. Also, one case study of a single veteran. Sample sizes range from five to eighty-nine veterans and a variety of EAS models were utilized. 1 Discussion/conclusions: The general field of EAS for veterans is in the early stages of scientific development. Additional rigorous studies are needed to investigate both outcomes and mechanisms of action. Since it is well-developed and widely used, the Eagala model is well suited for further research. Opportunities exist to analyze and publish existing data as well as to initiate new studies. However, challenges, such as funding, will need to be overcome. Marchand, W. R., Potential