The Virtual Mindfulness Study

NCT ID: NCT05490615

Last Updated: 2023-09-21

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: UNKNOWN
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 67 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2022-11-17
• Study Completion Date: 2024-08-30

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to test the effectiveness of a virtual group mindfulness intervention for autistic adults on their mental health and well-being, compared to a group who has not received the virtual group intervention. Specifically, the investigators will compare change across multiple indicators of mental health and well-being for participants, post-intervention, and at 15 weeks follow-up, to participants in a waitlist control group who have not yet received the intervention.

Detailed Description

It is well recognized that autistic individuals experience high rates of mental health issues, but that needed mental health services are often inaccessible. There is some evidence to suggest that mindfulness-based therapies may help to reduce some of these challenges for autistic adults. While in person interventions may be helpful, there are also benefits to participating in virtually based interventions, particularly during the pandemic. Virtual groups have the added benefit of not requiring travel for people who have difficulties with travel because of anxiety or financial constraints. For some autistic individuals, virtual engagement can be preferred over in person interactions because of the flexibility that virtual interactions allow (camera on or off, communicating with text or speaking, being able to attend from home in a familiar and comfortable space).

In a prior CAMH led study, the investigators demonstrated that autism-informed adaptations to a standard mindfulness-based virtually delivered group intervention led to self-reported improvements in mindfulness, self-compassion, and distress, with changes maintained at three months follow-up. This prior study lacked a control group, however so it is not known whether the positive impacts reported were specific to the mindfulness-based intervention itself or to other factors. Building on this previous work, there is a need to study whether improvements are also evident when compared to individuals who do not take part in the intervention.

The purpose of this study is to test the effectiveness of a virtual group mindfulness intervention for autistic adults on their mental health and well-being, compared to a group who has not received the virtual group intervention. Specifically, the investigators will compare change across multiple indicators of mental health and well-being for participants, post-intervention, and at 15 weeks follow-up, to participants in a waitlist control group who have not yet received the intervention.

Study Design: Randomized controlled trial with waitlist control.

Hypotheses We expect that participants in the mindfulness-based intervention group will report improvements in self-reported distress (primary outcome), mindfulness, self-compassion, and sense of autistic belonging (secondary outcomes), relative to the waitlist control group, which will be maintained at 15 weeks follow-up.

Survey Evaluation: All participants will provide pre, post and follow-up survey data related to either a 6-week virtual mindfulness course or waitlist. Participants will fill out survey measures evaluating the impact of either the intervention or waitlist on distress levels, self-compassion, mindfulness, and connections from baseline (Time 1) to week 7 (Time 2) and week 15 (Time 3). In addition, the waitlist control group (Group B) will be offered virtual mindfulness intervention from week 16 to week 21 and will be asked to complete 2 additional set of questionnaires at week 22 and at week 30, thus providing data pre and post with follow-up related to the mindfulness intervention.

Study Setting: This study will be delivered virtually but will be offered through CAMH, Toronto.

Target Population We aim to recruit in total 80 autistic adults from across Canada.

Conditions

Autism

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: SEQUENTIAL
• Primary Study Purpose: SUPPORTIVE_CARE
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

Mindfulness Intervention (Group-A)

Total length of study for participants in Group-A:15 Week

Six weekly sessions (each 60 minutes in length) of group based virtual mindfulness instruction, co-led by a mindfulness teacher and two autistic adults, following a workbook designed for autistic adults. In between sessions, participants are encouraged to complete homework and keep a record of when they practice formal and informal mindfulness practices. In addition, participants are provided with a link to autism informed mental health resources (https://www.yorku.ca/health/lab/ddmh/am-help/)

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Virtual Mindfulness

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Investigators have previously developed and tested a virtual mindfulness program. Six 1-hour weekly group sessions will be led on WebEx. Focus will be on skill building through the teaching of formal and informal mindfulness practices. The intervention, based on the MBSR curriculum, has been modified to make it more accessible for autistic adults. The curriculum developed for this program was designed with autistic advisors guiding the team on the length of meditations, the language used when giving instructions, and the range of techniques that would be most helpful for autistic adults. Each activity is presented as optional, recognizing that some people may find certain silent sensory experiences too distressing. Autistic advisors will participate in sessions as co-facilitators and multiple communication options will be available to group participants (text and audio, camera on or off).

Waitlist Control (Group-B)

Total length of study for participants in Group-B: 30 Week

A waitlist control group is an ethical alternative to no-treatment control groups when studying psychological and behavioral interventions. This group will have access to intervention at the end of the study as well. All waitlist participants are provided with a link to autism informed mental health resources (https://www.yorku.ca/health/lab/ddmh/am-help/)

Group Type: NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

Interventions

Virtual Mindfulness

Investigators have previously developed and tested a virtual mindfulness program. Six 1-hour weekly group sessions will be led on WebEx. Focus will be on skill building through the teaching of formal and informal mindfulness practices. The intervention, based on the MBSR curriculum, has been modified to make it more accessible for autistic adults. The curriculum developed for this program was designed with autistic advisors guiding the team on the length of meditations, the language used when giving instructions, and the range of techniques that would be most helpful for autistic adults. Each activity is presented as optional, recognizing that some people may find certain silent sensory experiences too distressing. Autistic advisors will participate in sessions as co-facilitators and multiple communication options will be available to group participants (text and audio, camera on or off).

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Aged 18 years and older;
• Autistic
• Proficient in English;
• Able to independently complete survey questionnaires;
• Able to independently participate in an online based group;
• Access to internet and computer/tablet

Exclusion Criteria

• Presence of intellectual disability;
• Unable to comprehend English or speak or write in English;
• No access to internet and computer/tablet.

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Yona Lunsky

Professor

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Yona Lunsky, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

CAMH

Locations

CAMH

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Countries

Canada