Tests horse-assisted therapy in teens with autism and emotional difficulties
Tests horse-assisted therapy in adolescents with autism who have not responded to other therapy.
Plain-language title generated from the registry record
Registry title: Equine-assisted Therapy for Therapy-resistant Adolescents With Autism Spectrum Disorders, a Replicated AB-design
Key facts
- Where
- Ede, Heerjansdam, and Mill, NetherlandsSee the 3 sites
AI summary: who the study is looking for
From the trial's eligibility criteria. Machine-read from the registry text on this page, so it can be wrong. The registry text below and the trial team decide who can take part.
The trial is looking for teenagers aged 11 to 18 with autism spectrum disorder who still have trouble managing emotions after regular therapy. It tests therapy with horses.
- Age
- 11 to 18 years
- Sex
- All sexes can join.
- Disease stage
- A clinical diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (DSM 5) made by a registered healthcare professional. Other conditions are allowed unless they affect safety.
- Earlier treatment
- At least 1,5 years of regular therapy, and still poor emotion regulation (EDI score above the clinical cut-off, T-score = 65). No therapy with horses in the last two years.
- Biomarker or test result
- EDI T-score above 65 shows insufficient emotion regulation.
Main reasons for not taking part
- Total IQ of 80 or below on the WISC
- Allergy or fear of horses
- Unstable medication use
- Physically unable to work with the horses, or cannot handle them safely
- Not enough Dutch, no internet access, or unable to answer questions
Read by machine on 12 November 2026.
Could this be for you?
Answer for yourself. This is not a decision: only the study team can say whether you can take part.
- Are you between 11 and 18 years old?
Source: NCT05200351, who can take part
Where in Netherlands
- KarakterEde, NetherlandsContact: Jenny den Boer, DrsTaking people
- Horses & CoHeerjansdam, NetherlandsContact: Esther van NoortTaking people
- De GagelhoeveMill, NetherlandsContact: Anita Blonk, Dr.Taking people
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Contact the study team: see the registry record → Contacts and Locations
Print a page for my doctorTrial details
- Who runs it
- Karakter Kinder- en Jeugdpsychiatrie
- Trial code
- NCT05200351
- Record updated
- 4 November 2024
- Original description
The purpose of this study is to assess the (cost)effectivity of Equine assisted Therapy in adolescents with Autism Spectrum disorders.Read full original descriptionShow less
Equine-assisted Therapy for Therapy-resistant Adolescents With Autism Spectrum Disorders, a Replicated AB-design
The purpose of this study is to assess the (cost)effectivity of Equine assisted Therapy in adolescents with Autism Spectrum disorders.
Inclusion: 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: unstable medication use; therapy with horses within the last two years; allergic or phobic to horses; 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; total intelligence quotient (IQ) equal to or below 80 on the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-III-R or WISC-V); insufficient regulation to safely handle the horses.