Neuropsychiatric SyndromeNCT06431126
Nature and Animal-assisted Activities
A study testing Nature and animal-assisted activities in people with Neuropsychiatric Syndrome and Autism Spectrum Disorder, run by Kronoberg County Council at 1 site in Sweden.
Trial summary
Neuropsychiatric impairments in young adults are common and can involve social withdrawal, and difficulties in receiving support from healthcare and municipal social care services. Collaboration is needed, but knowledge gaps exist concerning effective interventions. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 30 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Neuropsychiatric Syndrome, Autism Spectrum Disorder
- What is being tested?
- Nature and animal-assisted activities
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 13 participants
- Where
- 1 siteSweden
- Study dates
- 24 Sep 2020to 1 Dec 2027
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 30 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- 18-30 years
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
- No occupation/employment/education over the last year
- Social insurance benefits
- Interest in being with animals
Who cannot join
- Ongoing active drug abuse
- Severe psychiatric comorbidity
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: Nature and Animal-assisted Activities for Young Adults With Autism and Social Withdrawal
Neuropsychiatric impairments in young adults are common and can involve social withdrawal, and difficulties in receiving support from healthcare and municipal social care services. Collaboration is needed, but knowledge gaps exist concerning effective interventions. Participation in meaningful activities, as a complement to other treatment strategies can be a step towards studies/work. The aim of the trial is to explore the feasibility of a structured nature and animal-based activity on a farm for young adults with neuropsychiatric impairments.
The intervention involves participation in nature and animal-assisted group activities, twice a week for 12 weeks. Data consists of interviews with participants prior to and after the intervention, as well as one year later. The one-year follow-up focus is on life situation, changes in everyday life and experiences of the intervention. In addition, interview-based experiences of the ordinary staff and supervisors on the farm are included. Analysis will be carried out with qualitative content analysis, as well as health-economic calculations.
- Being tested
- Nature and animal-assisted activities
- Keywords
- complementary therapies, feasability, young adults
- Medical subject headings
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Nature and animal-assisted activitiesOther
Supervised activities on a farm, 2 half day/week for 12 weeks
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Nature and animal-assisted activities for young adults with autism | Experimental | Not described Receives: Other: Nature and animal-assisted activities |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Attendance
Number of sessions with participation
Measured: 12 weeks
Secondary outcomes (2)
Experiences of participation
Interviews
Measured: 12 weeks
Occupational level
Interview
Measured: 1 year
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted28 May 2024
- Study start24 Sep 2020
- Primary completion24 Jun 2026
- Study completion1 Dec 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Neuropsychiatric SyndromeStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 13 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Kronoberg County Council
- Sponsor type
- Other government
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Birgitta Gunnarsson, PhD, Principal investigator, Kronoberg County Council
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06431126
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- RK-997623
- Status last verified
- Jun 2026
- First submitted
- 14 May 2024
- Last updated
- 29 Jun 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 29 Jun 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Nature and Animal-assisted Activities for Young Adults With Autism and Social Withdrawal
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06431126
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- RK-997623
- Keywords
- complementary therapies, feasability, young adults
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Active, not recruiting
- Enrolment
- 13 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Kronoberg County CouncilOther government
- Study start
- 24 Sep 2020 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 24 Jun 2026 (actual)
- Study completion
- 1 Dec 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 28 May 2024 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Neuropsychiatric impairments in young adults are common and can involve social withdrawal, and difficulties in receiving support from healthcare and municipal social care services. Collaboration is needed, but knowledge gaps exist concerning effective interventions. Participation in meaningful activities, as a complement to other treatment strategies can be a step towards studies/work. The aim of the trial is to explore the feasibility of a structured nature and animal-based activity on a farm for young adults with neuropsychiatric impairments.
The intervention involves participation in nature and animal-assisted group activities, twice a week for 12 weeks. Data consists of interviews with participants prior to and after the intervention, as well as one year later. The one-year follow-up focus is on life situation, changes in everyday life and experiences of the intervention. In addition, interview-based experiences of the ordinary staff and supervisors on the farm are included. Analysis will be carried out with qualitative content analysis, as well as health-economic calculations.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 1
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Nature and animal-assisted activities for young adults with autism | Experimental | Other: Nature and animal-assisted activities |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 30 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- 18-30 years
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
- No occupation/employment/education over the last year
- Social insurance benefits
- Interest in being with animals
Key exclusion criteria (2 listed)
- Ongoing active drug abuse
- Severe psychiatric comorbidity
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Nature and animal-assisted activitiesSupervised activities on a farm, 2 half day/week for 12 weeks | Other | Nature and animal-assisted activities for young adults with autism |
Primary outcome
Attendance
Time frame: 12 weeks
Number of sessions with participation
2 secondary outcomes
Experiences of participation
Time frame: 12 weeks
Occupational level
Time frame: 1 year
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 29 Jun 2026.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Birgitta Gunnarsson, PhD principal investigator
Kronoberg County Council
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Nature and animal-assisted activities in people with Neuropsychiatric Syndrome and Autism Spectrum Disorder, run by Kronoberg County Council at 1 site in Sweden.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 2 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: under way, not looking for participants, as of the sponsor's last update on 29 Jun 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Sweden. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Attendance (time frame: 12 weeks). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 29 Jun 2026.