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Self-guided mindfulness and cognitive behavioural practices reduce anxiety in autistic adults: A pilot 8-month waitlist-controlled trial of widely available online tools.

Autism : the international journal of research and practice
May 1, 2020
Sebastian B Gaigg et al. (10 authors)
Journal ArticleRandomized Controlled TrialResearch Support, Non-U.S. Gov'tHuman StudyClinical
Study Details

Study Goal

The researchers aimed to determine whether existing online mindfulness-based therapy tools could help reduce anxiety in autistic adults.

Results Summary

The study found that autistic adults using mindfulness-based therapy reported significant decreases in anxiety over 3 and, to some extent, 6 months, though broader mental health benefits were less apparent.

Population

Autistic adults (n=19 in the mindfulness group, total n=35 in intervention groups).

Effective Dosage

Not specified

Duration

3 to 6 months

Interactions

None mentioned

Extracted Claims (3)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
online cognitive behaviour therapy self-help tools
decrease
anxiety
autistic adults
-
significant decreases
#1
online mindfulness-based therapy self-help tools
decrease
anxiety
autistic adults
-
significant decreases
#2
online cognitive behaviour therapy and mindfulness-based therapy tools
no change
broader measures of mental health and well-being
autistic adults
-
benefits were less apparent
#3
Abstract

Anxiety in autism is an important target for psychological therapies because it is very common and because it significantly impacts upon quality of life and well-being. Growing evidence suggests that cognitive behaviour therapies and mindfulness-based therapies can help autistic individuals learn to manage feelings of anxiety but access to such therapies remains problematic. In the current pilot study, we examined whether existing online cognitive behaviour therapy and mindfulness-based therapy self-help tools can help reduce anxiety in autistic adults. Specifically, 35 autistic adults were asked to try either an existing online cognitive behaviour therapy (n = 16) or mindfulness-based therapy (n = 19) programme while a further 19 autistic adults served as a waitlist comparison group. A first important finding was that 23 of the 35 (66%) participants who tried the online tools completed them, suggesting that such tools are, in principle, acceptable to many autistic adults. In addition, adults in the cognitive behaviour therapy and mindfulness-based therapy conditions reported significant decreases in anxiety over 3 and to some extent also 6 months that were less apparent in the waitlist group of participants. On broader measures of mental health and well-being, the benefits of the online tools were less apparent. Overall, the results suggest that online self-help cognitive behaviour therapy and mindfulness-based therapy tools should be explored further as a means of providing cost-effective mental health support to at least those autistic individuals who can engage effectively with such online tools.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
AdultAnxietyAutism Spectrum DisorderAutistic DisorderCognitionHumansMindfulnessPilot ProjectsQuality of Life
Study Links
Quality Scores
SafetyNot Assessed
Efficacy75/10
Quality70/10
Citation Metrics
Total Citations26
Citations/Year5.2
Relative Citation Ratio2.75
NIH Percentile83.1%
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.75
Weight Score2.29
Normalized Score0.64
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