Physiological Mechanisms of Therapeutic Horseback Riding Intervention Effects in a Psychiatric Population of ASD Youth

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Autism Spectrum Disorder; Mental Disorders

• Registration Number: NCT04606966
• Lead Sponsor: University of Colorado, Denver

Brief Summary

This randomized control trial (RCT) seeks to assess the mechanisms underlying Therapeutic Horseback Riding's (THR) previously observed significant positive effects on ASD youth, particularly those with co-occurring psychiatric disorders, and to refine information on the durability, dose and sub-population effects of the intervention.

Detailed Description

This randomized control trial (RCT) will test the hypothesis that physiological response patterns of salivary cortisol, cardiovascular, and electrodermal activity account for our previously observed significant outcomes (i.e., reduced irritability and hyperactivity, and improved social and communication), and additional outcomes (emotion regulation caregiver quality of life and crisis mental health care usage), in youth ages 6-16 yrs. with ASD and co-occurring psychiatric diagnoses randomized to a 10-week manualized THR intervention compared to a no-horse Barn Activity (BA) control (Aim 1). We will evaluate the durability of Aim 1 outcomes in the THR group compared to the BA control group six-months after the intervention period (Aim 2). Finally, we will explore dose and sub-population effects of THR and BA interventions by comparing effect size differences in THR and BA groups to (a) a 10-week wait-list control group; (b) a Hybrid intervention group (five weeks BA followed by five weeks THR); and (c) a subsample of the THR study population randomized following psychiatric hospitalization (Aim 3).

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2020-10-15
• Study First Submitted QC: 2020-10-22
• Study First Posted: 2020-10-28
• Study Start: 2020-12-22
• Primary Completion: 2025-02-22
• Study Completion: 2025-02-22
• Status Verified: 2025-07
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-07-28
• Last Update Posted: 2025-07-30

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 250

Inclusion Criteria

• documented ASD diagnosis and a co-occurring psychiatric disorder
• ABC Irritability subscale score ≥8
• Leiter-III Nonverbal IQ ≥ 40
• meet Symptom Criterion score (minimum number of symptoms necessary for a DSM-V (mood, anxiety, or ADHD diagnosis) on CASI-5)
• meet ASD cut-offs on the SCQ (≥ 11) and on ADOS-2
• Only one child with ASD per family to maintain independent observations
• a consistent caregiver (i.e., parent or legal guardian) to complete study outcome measures

Exclusion Criteria

• medical or behavioral issues that prevent participation
• ward of the state
• judged during riding center screen to have significant riding experience
• smoking or regular use of oral, inhaled, or topical steroids on a regular basis, factors known to affect cortisol levels
• Participants weighing 200 pounds or greater will be excluded due to the riding center's safety policies
• Participants will not be allowed to begin baseline assessments until at least six months have passed from the time they last engaged in mounted EAAT, given pilot evidence for the six-month maintenance of THR effects.

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change in Social Responsiveness Scale™, Second Edition	Baseline, week 10, 6 months	social awareness, social cognition, social communication, social motivation, autistic mannerisms. Results in a T-score that indicates severity level ranges.
Change in Emotion Dysregulation Inventory (EDI)	Baseline, week 10, 6 months	24 -item Reactivity behaviors of intense, rapidly escalating, sustained, and poorly regulated negative emotional reactions, and 6-item Dysphoria behaviors of minimal positive affect and motivation, and the presence of nervousness and sadness.Both the Dysphoria Scale and Reactivity Short Form have IRT-based theta scores, which have a mean of 0 and SD of 1, and provide superior discriminative ability to raw scores.
Change in World Health Organization's Quality of Life Instrument (WHOQOL-BREF)	Baseline, week 10, 6 months	Quality of life for caregiver
Change in Crisis Mental Health Care Usage Survey	Baseline, week 10, 6 months	crisis mental health care usage
Change in Aberrant Behavior Checklist-Community (ABC-C)	Baseline, week 10, 6 months	58-item symptom presence and severity (0-3, not a problem to severe problem) checklist of problem behaviors of children and adults with developmental disabilities in community settings. The 58 items resolve into five subscales: (1) Irritability, Agitation, (2) Lethargy, Social Withdrawal, (3) Stereotypic Behavior, (4) Hyperactivity, and (5) Inappropriate Speech.Irritability and Hyperactivity behaviors
Change in Systematic Analysis of Language Transcripts (SALT)	Baseline, week 10, 6 months	Expressive Language Sample

Trial Locations

Locations (2)

University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus; 🇺🇸 Aurora, Colorado, United States

Maine Health; 🇺🇸 Portland, Maine, United States