Mindfulness-based stress reduction for autistic adults: A feasibility study in an outpatient context.
Hanna Agius, Anne-Kristina Luoto, Anna Backman and 4 others
PMID 37190953WHAT IT FOUND
Adapted mindfulness training was feasible for autistic adults, with 79% completing the course.
Participants reported reduced stress, anxiety, and depression, and higher credibility of the treatment. However, mindfulness skills and life satisfaction did not change. This is a small open study, not proof of efficacy.
Key findings
0179% of participants (34 of 43) completed at least six of the nine classes, meeting the benchmark for feasibility.
02Participants reported significant reductions in perceived stress, anxiety symptoms, and depressive symptoms from pre- to post-intervention.
03There were no significant changes in mindful awareness, satisfaction with life, or acceptance of the autism diagnosis.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The study was open-label with no control group, so improvements cannot be definitively attributed to the MBSR intervention rather than time or expectation. The sample size was small (43 participants), and the study was designed to test feasibility, not effectiveness. Self-report questionnaires were not specifically validated for autistic individuals, which may affect the accuracy of the reported outcomes. The definition of adverse events relied on spontaneous reporting, which may have missed transient distress or negative impacts.
Declared interests
Several authors are employed by Habilitation & Health, Region Stockholm, the service provider where the study was conducted. One author receives royalties for treatment manuals (unrelated to this study) and acts as a consultant for pharmaceutical companies. The study was funded by Region Stockholm and the Promobilia foundation.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the reduced anxiety and depression scores as proof that MBSR is an effective treatment for these conditions in autistic adults. Because there was no control group and the study was small and open-label, these changes could be due to natural fluctuation, placebo effects, or other factors unrelated to the mindfulness training itself.