Evaluating Additive Effects of Including Canines in Regulating Together
1 other identifier
interventional
240
1 country
1
Brief 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.
Trial Health
Trial Health Score
Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach
participants targeted
Target at P75+ for not_applicable
Started Feb 2023
Longer than P75 for not_applicable
1 active site
Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.
Trial Relationships
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Study Timeline
Key milestones and dates
Study Start
First participant enrolled
February 28, 2023
CompletedFirst Submitted
Initial submission to the registry
March 15, 2023
CompletedFirst Posted
Study publicly available on registry
April 7, 2023
CompletedPrimary Completion
Last participant's last visit for primary outcome
August 31, 2027
ExpectedStudy Completion
Last participant's last visit for all outcomes
August 31, 2027
March 18, 2026
March 1, 2026
4.5 years
March 15, 2023
March 16, 2026
Conditions
Outcome Measures
Primary Outcomes (1)
Emotion Dysregulation Inventory-Reactivity (EDI-R)
The EDI-R is a parent-report measure that consists of two scales, Reactivity which captures poorly regulated negative emotional responses and Dysphoria characterized by decreased uptake of positive affect and lack of motivation. Higher scores indicate higher emotional reactivity.
Through study completion
Study Arms (2)
Regulating Together-Canine (RT-Canine)
EXPERIMENTALParticipants in this Arm will receive the Regulating Together-Canine intervention.
Regulating Together-Standard (RT-Standard)
ACTIVE COMPARATORParticipants in this Arm will receive the Regulating Together-Standard intervention.
Interventions
RT-C is an animal assisted, intensive outpatient group intervention for children with autism spectrum disorder and emotion dysregulation. RT-C meets for 1.5 hours, twice weekly for five weeks with concurrent youth and caregiver groups. The children progress through skills including relaxation training, arousal ratings, problem size, mindfulness, problem solving, and cognitive flexibility. The caregivers learn crisis management, reward systems, and coaching strategies for topics taught to the children. Homework is utilized to reinforce use of skills outside the group. The canines are present throughout as both a calming presence and teaching assistant. Children will be able to interact with the dog when practicing relaxation at the beginning of each session and throughout the session. Additionally, the dog will help to emphasize certain curriculum concepts.
RT-S an established, intensive outpatient group intervention for children with autism spectrum disorder and emotion dysregulation. It engages both caregivers and children and utilizes evidence-based intervention techniques including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), visuals, reinforcements, and scaffolding, and newer interventions such as mindfulness and acceptance-based therapy.
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if:
- 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
You may not qualify if:
- 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
Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.
Sponsors & Collaborators
Study Sites (1)
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
Cincinnati, Ohio, 45229, United States
MeSH Terms
Conditions
Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)
Study Officials
- PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Rebecca Shaffer, Psy.D.
Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati
Central Study Contacts
Study Design
- Study Type
- interventional
- Phase
- not applicable
- Allocation
- RANDOMIZED
- Masking
- SINGLE
- Who Masked
- OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
- Purpose
- TREATMENT
- Intervention Model
- PARALLEL
- Sponsor Type
- OTHER
- Responsible Party
- SPONSOR
Study Record Dates
First Submitted
March 15, 2023
First Posted
April 7, 2023
Study Start
February 28, 2023
Primary Completion (Estimated)
August 31, 2027
Study Completion (Estimated)
August 31, 2027
Last Updated
March 18, 2026
Record last verified: 2026-03