Mindfulness-Based Interventions for People with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Literature Review
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Eligibility Criteria
2.2. Exclusion Criteria
2.3. Search Strategy
2.4. Study Selection
2.5. Data Extraction
2.6. Risk of Bias Assessment
2.7. Classification and Theme Identification
3. Results
3.1. Interventions for Adults with ASD
3.2. Interventions for Children and Adolescents with ASD
3.3. Interventions for Caregivers of Individuals with ASD
3.4. Combined Interventions for Parents and Children/Adolescents with ASD
3.5. Analsysis of Quality
4. Discussion
4.1. Limitations and Strengths of the Reviewed Studies
4.2. Perspectives and Future Directions
4.3. Limitations
4.4. Conclusions
Supplementary Materials
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Year | Authors | Confounding | Selection of Participants | Classification of Interventions | Deviations from Intended Interventions | Missing Data | Measurement of Outcomes | Selection of Reported Result |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2023 | Agius et al. [60] | M | L | L | L | L | M | L |
2023 | Bellone et al. [61] | M | M | L | NI | L | M | L |
2022 | Braden et al. [62] | M | L | L | L | M | L | L |
2022 | Clifford et al. [63] | M | L | L | L | L | L | L |
2018 | Conner and White [64] | S | M | L | NI | L | M | M |
2019 | Conner and White [65] | L | L | L | L | L | M | L |
2014 | De Bruin et al. [66] | M | L | L | L | M | M | L |
2022 | Drusedau et al. [67] | S | L | L | NI | L | M | M |
2023 | Drusedau et al. [68] | M | L | L | NI | L | M | M |
2014 | Dykens et al. [69] | M | L | L | L | L | L | L |
2021 | Frolli et al. [70] | M | L | L | NI | L | L | L |
2020 | Gaigg et al. [71] | S | L | L | L | M | M | L |
2022 | Gandia-Abellan et al. [72] | M | L | L | M | L | M | M |
2023 | Hatfield et al. [73] | M | M | L | NI | M | M | M |
2021 | Ho et al. [74] | M | L | L | L | L | L | L |
2020 | Juliano et al. [75] | M | M | L | NI | L | M | L |
2022 | Kemeny et al. [76] | S | L | L | M | L | M | L |
2022 | Ketcheson et al. [77] | S | M | L | L | M | M | M |
2017 | Lunsky et al. [78] | M | L | M | NI | L | M | L |
2021 | Lunsky et al. [79] | S | M | L | NI | M | M | L |
2022 | Lunsky et al. [80] | M | L | L | NI | L | M | L |
2023 | Neece et al. [81] | M | L | L | NI | L | M | L |
2020 | Pagni et al. [82] | M | L | L | NI | M | L | L |
2023 | Pagni et al. [83] | M | M | L | NI | M | L | L |
2016 | Rayan and Ahmad [84] | M | L | L | NI | M | M | S |
2022 | Redquest et al. [85] | S | M | L | NI | M | M | M |
2018 | Ridderinkhof et al. [86] | M | L | L | L | L | M | L |
2021 | Rojas-Torres et al. [87] | S | M | L | L | L | M | M |
2023 | Rojas-Torres et al. [88] | S | M | L | NI | L | M | M |
2019 | Salem-Guirgis et al. [89] | M | L | L | M | L | M | L |
2020 | Singh et al. [90] | M | L | L | L | L | L | L |
2023 | Singh et al. [91] | M | L | L | L | L | L | L |
2017 | Sizoo et al. [92] | M | L | L | L | M | M | L |
2013 | Spek et al. [93] | M | L | L | NI | L | M | L |
2023 | Stecher et al. [94] | M | M | L | L | L | L | L |
2020 | Weitlauf et al. [95] | L | L | L | L | L | M | M |
2022 | Weitlauf et al. [96] | M | L | L | L | M | M | M |
Year | Authors | n | Type of Study | Control Group (If Any) | Intervention | Outcome | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2023 | Stecher et al. [94] | 125 | RCT | Waitlist | 8 weeks of daily meditation for 10 min with the Ten Percent Happier app. | Depression | Positive |
2023 | Agius et al. [60] | 50 | Intervention | None | 8-week MBSR with reduced time of daily meditation (10–15 min). | Stress levels | Positive |
2023 | Pagni et al. [83] | 96 | RCT | Active | 8-week MBSR with reduced group duration (2 h) and reduced practice time. | Depression, anxiety, mindfulness traits, autistic traits, and executive functioning abilities | Positive |
2022 | Braden et al. [62] | 67 | RCT | Active | 8-week MBSR with reduced group duration (2 h) and no required full-day retreat. | Disability-related QoL | Positive |
2022 | Gandía-Abellán et al. [72] | 15 | Pilot | None | 8-week MindfulTEA intervention, with 45 min weekly group session. | Behavioral problems | Positive |
2022 | Redquest et al. [85] | 28 | Pilot | None | 6-week virtual MBI with 60 min weekly group session. | Psychological distress, self-compassion, mindfulness | Negative |
2022 | Lunsky et al. [80] | 50 | Intervention | None | 6-week virtual MBI with 60 min weekly group session. | Mindfulness, self-compassion, distress | Positive |
2020 | Pagni et al. [82] | 42 | RCT | Active | 8-week MBSR with reduced group duration (2 h) and reduced practice time. | Depression and anxiety | Positive |
2020 | Gaigg et al. [71] | 54 | RCT | Active | 6–8 weeks of online courses including 10 exercises delivered through videos and audio files. | Anxiety | Positive |
2018 | Conner and White [64] | 9 | Pilot | None | 6 weekly individual therapy sessions of 1 h based on MBCT, with reduced practice time. | Emotion regulation | Positive |
2017 | Sizoo and Kuiper [92] | 59 | RCT | Active | MBSR-inspired protocol with 13 weekly 90 min sessions. | Anxiety and depression | Positive |
2013 | Spek et al. [93] | 42 | RCT | Waitlist | MBT-AS protocol with 9 weekly group sessions plus 40–60 min of daily meditation. | Depression, anxiety, rumination | Positive |
Year | Authors | n | Type of Study | Control Group (If Any) | Intervention | Outcome | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2022 * | Drüsedau et al. [67] | 25 | Pilot | None | TüTASS program focused on mindful perception of body and emotions, delivered in 12 weekly 90 min sessions. | Depression | Positive |
2023 * | Drüsedau et al. [68] | 27 | Intervention | None | TüTASS program delivered in 20 weekly 90 min sessions. | Stress levels | Positive |
2023 * | Hatfield et al. [73] | 14 | Pilot | None | Mindful Movers program including 10 weekly 75 min sessions focused on mindful movement and breathing meditation. | Depression, anxiety, mindfulness traits, autistic traits, and executive functioning abilities | Negative |
2022 * | Clifford et al. [63] | 51 | RCT | Active | Attention-based cognitive behavioral treatment based on MBCT and DBT delivered in 9 sessions of 60 min. | Disability-related QoL | Positive |
2022 | Kemeny et al. [76] | 27 | RCT | Waitlist | 10 weeks of HeartMath Mindfulness protocol. | Behavioral problems | Positive |
2021 | Frolli et al. [70] | 54 | RCT | Active | Rational education training followed by 8 mindfulness-based sessions of 60 min. | Psychological distress, self-compassion, mindfulness | Positive |
2020 * | Juliano et al. [75] | 29 | Pilot | None | Mindful Schools program delivered in 30 min sessions occurring twice per week for 8 weeks, focused on mindful breathing. | Mindfulness, self-compassion, distress | Positive |
2019 | Conner et al. [65] | 20 | Intervention | None | Emotional Awareness and Skills Enhancement (EASE), an individual therapy format delivered in 16 weekly 45–50 min sessions. | Anxiety | Positive |
Year | Authors | n | Type of Study | Control Group (If Any) | Intervention | Outcome | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2023 | Neece et al. [81] | 117 | RCT | Active | MBSR intervention including eight weekly 2 h group sessions, a 6 h meditation retreat, and 30–45 min of daily home practice. | Stress | Positive |
2023 | Rojas-Torres et al. [88] | 14 | RCT | Waitlist | Mindfulness Parenting (MP) program with eight weekly sessions of 90 min, plus 15–30 min of daily practice. | Anxiety, parental stress, autism severity level, mindfulness awareness | Positive |
2023 | Bellone et al. [61] | 13 | Pilot | None | Mindful Self-Care for Caregivers (MSCC), including eight weekly 1.5 h classes plus home practice. | Mindfulness skills, sense of competency, stress, depression | Positive |
2022 | Ketcheson et al. [77] | 27 | RCT | Passive | MYtime, a mindfulness yoga program with a 60 min weekly class for 12 weeks. | Stress, anxiety and depression | Positive |
2021 | Lunsky et al. [79] | 39 | Pilot | None | Virtual six-week MBI based on MBCT with group session and brief audio practice recordings (10–15 min). | Mental health | Positive |
2021 | Rojas-Torres et al. [87] | 12 | RCT | Waitlist | MBSR + Self-compassion delivered in eight weekly sessions of 90 min plus 15–30 min practice at home. | Depression, anxiety, satisfaction in life, mindful attention awareness | Positive |
2023 * | Singh et al. [91] | 216 | RCT | Active | MBI with 3 days training and a 32-week program based on standard Buddhist meditation practices. | Caregiver and client’s quality of life | Positive |
2020 * | Singh et al. [90] | 216 | RCT | Active | MBI with 3 days training and a 32-week program based on standard Buddhist meditation practices. | Perceived stress, compassion satisfaction, compassion fatigue, depression | Positive |
2020 | Weitlauf et al. [95] | 61 | RCT | Active | Adapted MBSR with six one-hour individual sessions. | Stress, depression, anxiety, life satisfaction | Positive |
2017 | Lunsky et al. [78] | 57 | RCT | Active | Six 2 h weekly sessions of mindfulness training. | Psychological distress | Positive |
2016 | Rayan and Ahmad [84] | 120 | RCT | Passive | Brief five-week MBI with both in-person sessions and homework. | Psychological health domain of QoL, social health domain of QoL, mindfulness, positive stress reappraisal | Positive |
2014 | Dykens et al. [69] | 243 | RCT | Active | Standard MBSR program. | Stress, depression, anxiety, sleep, well-being | Positive |
Year | Authors | n | Type of Study | Control Group (If Any) | Intervention | Outcome | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2022 * | Weitlauf et al. [96] | 63 | RCT | Active | Adapted MBSR with six one-hour individual sessions. | Depression | Positive |
2021 | Ho et al. [74] | 37 | RCT | Waitlist | MYmind program (see text for details). | Stress levels | Positive |
2019 * | Salem-Guirgis et al. [89] | 26 | Intervention | None | MYmind program (see text for details). | Depression, anxiety, mindfulness traits, autistic traits, and executive functioning abilities | Positive |
2018 | Ridderinkhof et al. [86] | 45 | Intervention | None | MYmind program (see text for details). | Disability related QoL | Positive |
2015 | de Bruin et al. [66] | 23 | Intervention | None | MYmind program (see text for details). | Behavioral problems | Positive |
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Simione, L.; Frolli, A.; Sciattella, F.; Chiarella, S.G. Mindfulness-Based Interventions for People with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Literature Review. Brain Sci. 2024, 14, 1001. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci14101001
Simione L, Frolli A, Sciattella F, Chiarella SG. Mindfulness-Based Interventions for People with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Literature Review. Brain Sciences. 2024; 14(10):1001. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci14101001
Chicago/Turabian StyleSimione, Luca, Alessandro Frolli, Francesca Sciattella, and Salvatore Gaetano Chiarella. 2024. "Mindfulness-Based Interventions for People with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Literature Review" Brain Sciences 14, no. 10: 1001. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci14101001
APA StyleSimione, L., Frolli, A., Sciattella, F., & Chiarella, S. G. (2024). Mindfulness-Based Interventions for People with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Literature Review. Brain Sciences, 14(10), 1001. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci14101001