Using dogs to help children with autism manage emotions

Is this trial a fit for you?

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This study evaluates the effectiveness of including canines in a behavioral treatment program aimed at improving emotion regulation in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Participants aged 8 to 15 will be randomly assigned to either a standard treatment group or a treatment group that incorporates dogs. The study will assess improvements in emotion dysregulation, child engagement, and learning through various measures taken at multiple time points. Additionally, physiological responses will be monitored to explore their relationship with treatment outcomes.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

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

Where it's running

• Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
  Cincinnati, Ohio, United States Recruiting

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Rebecca Shaffer, Psy.D. — Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati
• Study coordinator: Carrie Fassler
• Email: carrie.fassler@cchmc.org
• Phone: 513-803-3580

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How to take part

1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.