Mindfulness and Autism Spectrum Disorders

Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) have been a professional interest of mine for over a decade, and I *try* to keep up with the ever-growing wealth of research about all the many aspects of ASD.  One research area that has been expanding is the use of mindfulness techniques by people with ASD and their families.  While more study is definitely needed, the studies I've read suggest that practicing mindfulness can provide measurable benefit in a variety of ways.

One research article that was published just this summer studied the effect of brief mindfulness practice on anxiety, depression, and over-selectivity (highly focusing on one element in the environment, to the exclusion of other equally or more important stimuli).  Ultimately, the study suggests that mindfulness practice may benefit all people with ASD, and mindfulness practice was as, or in some cases more, effective in reducing over-selectivity and anxiety (Reed, 2018). 

In another study, a research group within the University of Amsterdam found that a nine-session mindfulness intervention for adolescents with ASD resulted in improved social skills (responsiveness, communication, cognition and motivation) as well as reduction in preoccupations (deBruin et al, 2014).

There have also been numerous studies on mindfulness practice and reduction of distress for parents and caretakers of people with ASD; one such study found that after mindfulness-based stress reduction techniques, parents of children with developmental delays reported less depression, stress, and improved life satisfaction than the control group (Neece, 2013).  

While three studies surely does not reflect the entirety of the current research, I think this is a representative sample.  And I'm not suggesting that mindfulness is a cure-all, or even the most effective intervention for ALL people with ASD; however, it is a valid tool that may address the whole-person, and not one symptom alone. Not only that, but practicing mindfulness may benefit the entire family.  

DeBruin, E., Blom, R., Smit, F. M., Van Steensel, F. J., & Bogels, S. M. (2015). MYmind: Mindfulness training for youngsters with autism spectrum disorders and their parents. [Abstract]. Autism,19(8), 906-914. Retrieved August 13, 2018, from http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1362361314553279?journalCode=auta

Neece, C. L. (2013). Mindfulness‐Based Stress Reduction for Parents of Young Children with Developmental Delays: Implications for Parental Mental Health and Child Behavior Problems. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities. doi:https://doi.org/10.1111/jar.12064

Reed, P. (2018). Mechanisms of Mindfulness in Those with Higher and Lower Levels of Autism Traits. Mindfulness. doi:DOI: 10.1007/s12671-018-0964-6