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ERIC Number: EJ1255194
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2020-May
Pages: 17
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1362-3613
EISSN: N/A
Self-Guided Mindfulness and Cognitive Behavioural Practices Reduce Anxiety in Autistic Adults: A Pilot 8-Month Waitlist-Controlled Trial of Widely Available Online Tools
Gaigg, Sebastian B.; Flaxman, Paul E.; McLaven, Gracie; Shah, Ritika; Bowler, Dermot M.; Meyer, Brenda; Roestorf, Amanda; Haenschel, Corinna; Rodgers, Jacqui; South, Mikle
Autism: The International Journal of Research and Practice, v24 n4 p867-883 May 2020
Anxiety in autism is an important treatment target because of its consequences for quality of life and well-being. Growing evidence suggests that cognitive behaviour therapies and mindfulness-based therapies can ameliorate anxiety in autism but cost-effective delivery remains a challenge. This pilot randomised controlled trial examined whether online cognitive behaviour therapy and mindfulness-based therapy self-help programmes could help reduce anxiety in 54 autistic adults who were randomly allocated to either an online cognitive behaviour therapy (n = 16) or mindfulness-based therapy (n = 19) programme or a waitlist control group (n = 19). Primary outcome measures of anxiety, secondary outcome measures of broader well-being and potential process of change variables were collected at baseline, after programme completion, and then 3 and 6 months post-completion. Baseline data confirmed that intolerance of uncertainty and emotional acceptance accounted for up to 61% of self-reported anxiety across all participants. The 23 participants who were retained in the active conditions (14 mindfulness-based therapies, 9 cognitive behaviour therapies) showed significant decreases in anxiety that were maintained over 3, and to some extent also 6 months. Overall, results suggest that online self-help cognitive behaviour therapy and mindfulness-based therapy tools may provide a cost-effective method for delivering mental health support to those autistic adults who can engage effectively with online support tools.
SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: http://sagepub.com
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: United Kingdom
Identifiers - Assessments and Surveys: Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule; Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale; Social Responsiveness Scale; State Trait Anxiety Inventory; Beck Anxiety Inventory
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A