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Evaluating Regulating Together with Canines for Autism and Emotion Regulation

This study is looking at whether adding dogs to a group therapy program helps children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) better manage their emotions. The program, called Regulating Together, already helps children and their caregivers learn skills using techniques like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). This study compares the standard program (Regulating Together-Standard) to one that includes dogs (Regulating Together-Canine). You might be able to join if you are 8 to 15 years old, have an ASD diagnosis, and struggle with emotion dysregulation (difficulty controlling your emotions). The main goal is to see if the dog-assisted program leads to faster and greater improvement in emotion regulation. The study status is currently unclear.

Study design
This interventional study plans to enroll 240 participants, who will be randomly assigned to either the Regulating Together-Standard group or the Regulating Together-Canine group.
What's involved
Participants will have 5 research visits and attend 10 group intervention sessions. Outcome measures will be completed at several points: before treatment, 1-2 weeks after treatment, 10 weeks after treatment, and 6 months after treatment.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Participants will be followed for 6 months after completing treatment.

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

NCT05803343

Evaluating Additive Effects of Including Canines in Regulating Together

Recruiting
NAAges 8–15InterventionalTreatment
Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati
~240 participants
Updated 2026-07-08 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Regulating Together-CanineRegulating Together-Standard

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Emotion Dysregulation Inventory-Reactivity (EDI-R)
Measured over Through study completion

Conditions

Autism Spectrum Disorder
Emotion Regulation

Explore related trials

Autism Spectrum DisorderEmotion Regulation

Where it's being run

1 sites across 1 states
Ohio1

Study leadership

  • Rebecca Shaffer, Psy.D. · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati

Who to contact

Carrie Fassler
[email protected]
513-803-3580
Email the study team

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Do you actually qualify for this trial?

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

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

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

What this trial measures

  • Emotion Dysregulation Inventory-Reactivity (EDI-R)Through study completion

    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.