RecruitingNot Applicable

Evaluating Additive Effects of Including Canines in Regulating Together

United States240 participantsStarted 2023-02-28

Plain-language summary

The primary objective is to evaluate the potential additive effect of animal-assisted intervention (AAI) on a manualized behavioral treatment targeting emotion dysregulation (ED) in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Aim 1: Evaluate whether Regulating Together-Canine demonstrates earlier and greater improvement in emotion dysregulation than Regulating Together-Standard. Aim 2: Evaluate if Regulating Together-Canine increases child engagement and learning compared to Regulating Together-Standard. Exploratory Aim: Explore association of physiological arousal (via heart rate tracking) with emotion dysregulation, treatment engagement, and learning.

Who can participate

Age range

8 Years – 15 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * Concern of emotion dysregulation (ED) as measured by a score of 6 or greater on the Emotion Dysregulation Inventory-Reactivity (EDI-R) * Diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) * Diagnosis confirmed by an experienced ASD clinician and further supported by scoring in the range for ASD on the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS-2) * A Full Scale Intelligence Quotient score of 65 or greater on the Weschler Abbreviated Scale Intelligence (WASI-II) * English is the primary language * Family willing to keep prescribed medication stable over the course of the study period Exclusion Criteria: * Participant has a phobia toward or is allergic to canines * Participant has a history of aggression toward animals * Participant has had any physical aggression toward other children outside the home in the past 2 weeks that resulted in injury * Presence of comorbid major neuropsychiatric illness warranting other treatment approaches as determined by the study clinician(s) including substance use disorders, psychotic disorders/schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder, among others * Presence of any major sensory impairment that would limit participating in the material including blindness or uncorrected hearing loss * A legal guardian is not available to provide informed consent

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Emotion Dysregulation Inventory-Reactivity (EDI-R)

Timeframe: Through study completion

Trial details

NCT IDNCT05803343

SponsorChildren's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2027-08-31

Contact for this trial

Carrie Fassler

513-803-3580 carrie.fassler@cchmc.org

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Autism Spectrum Disorder trials