Equine-assisted Therapy for Therapy-resistant Adolescents With Autism Spectrum Disorders, a Replicated AB-design

Karakter Kinder- en Jeugdpsychiatrie

Status

Enrolling

Conditions

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Adolescent - Emotional Problem

Emotion Regulation

Treatments

Behavioral: Equine assisted Therapy (EAT)

Study type

Interventional

Funder types

Other

Identifiers

NCT05200351

185-20 Pegasus

636310020 (Other Grant/Funding Number)

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this study is to assess the (cost)effectivity of Equine assisted Therapy in adolescents with Autism Spectrum disorders.

Full description

The study has a mixed-methods strategy consisting of three elements: a randomized, multiple-baseline single-case design (n=35), a qualitative study (n=8-10) and a cost-effectiveness study (n=6). After obtaining written informed consent, participants will be randomly assigned to one of the five pre-defined baseline lengths (2-6 weeks) to increase the internal validity of the design.

Enrollment

35 estimated patients

Sex

All

Ages

11 to 18 years old

Volunteers

No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

between 11-18 years old;
a clinical diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders according the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5 (DSM 5) as diagnosed by a Beroepen in de Individuele Gezondheidszorg (BIG) registered healthcare professional;
insufficient emotion regulation after regular therapy for at least 1,5 years as indicated by a score above clinical cut-off (T-score = 65) on the EDI;
comorbidities are allowed except for those interfering with safety.

Exclusion criteria

unable to respond to questions (parents or adolescents);
no access to an Internet connection;
insufficient mastery of Dutch language in parents or adolescents;
physically incapable to work with the horses;
unstable medication use;
total intelligence quotient (IQ) equal to or below 80 on the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-III-R or WISC-V);
allergic or phobic to horses;
insufficient regulation to safely handle the horses;
therapy with horses within the last two years.