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Mindfulness Training for Autism

N/A
Waitlist Available
Led By Brittany B Braden, PhD
Research Sponsored by Arizona State University
Eligibility Criteria Checklist
Specific guidelines that determine who can or cannot participate in a clinical trial
Must have
English speaking: Participants must be English-speaking because the screening and behavioral measures are in English (including the intelligence estimate).
Must be able to attend at least 7 of the 8 weekly intervention classes.
Must not have
Pregnant women. MRI has no known effects on pregnancy or fertility. However, since we are not 100% certain MRI has no effects on a developing fetus, women who are pregnant may not participate in this study.
Report of any major medical illnesses, histories of seizures, or head trauma with loss of consciousness. These health factors can cause brain changes that would confound findings.
Timeline
Screening 3 weeks
Treatment Varies
Follow Up post-intervention (~10 weeks)
Awards & highlights
No Placebo-Only Group

Summary

This trial is studying how well two different stress-reduction classes help adults with ASD manage symptoms by looking at changes in brain functioning.

Who is the study for?
This trial is for English-speaking adults aged 18-89 with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), especially those in college. Participants must be able to attend most of the weekly classes and have an ASD diagnosis confirmed by standard assessments. Excluded are individuals with IQ <70, major medical conditions, seizure history, head trauma, claustrophobia or metal implants that affect MRI safety, and pregnant women.
What is being tested?
The study compares two stress-reduction techniques over 8 weeks: Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) involving mindfulness strategies and gentle stretching versus a relaxation group offering social support. Brain function before and after these classes will be measured using MRI, EEG, and self-report data to see how brain changes relate to symptom improvement.
What are the potential side effects?
Since this trial involves non-invasive interventions like mindfulness training and relaxation techniques rather than medication or surgery, significant side effects are not anticipated. However, participants may experience discomfort during MRI scans or emotional distress related to discussing personal experiences.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

You may be eligible if you check “Yes” for the criteria below
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I speak English and can understand English materials.
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I can attend at least 7 out of 8 weekly classes.

Exclusion Criteria

You may be eligible for the trial if you check “No” for criteria below:
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I am not pregnant, as pregnancy excludes me from this study.
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I have no major illnesses, seizures, or head injuries causing unconsciousness.

Timeline

Screening ~ 3 weeks
Treatment ~ Varies
Follow Up ~post-intervention (~10 weeks)
This trial's timeline: 3 weeks for screening, Varies for treatment, and post-intervention (~10 weeks) for reporting.

Treatment Details

Study Objectives

Study objectives can provide a clearer picture of what you can expect from a treatment.
Primary study objectives
Beck Depression Inventory - 2
Beck Depression Inventory - II
State-Trait Anxiety Inventory
Secondary study objectives
World Health Organization Quality of Life
Other study objectives
Blood-oxygen-level dependent (BOLD) response in brain regions activated during a self-reflection fMRI task
Blood-oxygen-level dependent (BOLD) response in regions activated during an emotion-regulation fMRI task
Event-Related Potentials (ERP) measured during regulation of affective responses

Awards & Highlights

No Placebo-Only Group
All patients enrolled in this study will receive some form of active treatment.

Trial Design

2Treatment groups
Active Control
Group I: Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction ProgramActive Control1 Intervention
Group II: Relaxation GroupActive Control1 Intervention

Find a Location

Who is running the clinical trial?

Banner Alzheimer's InstituteOTHER
7 Previous Clinical Trials
2,576 Total Patients Enrolled
Arizona State UniversityLead Sponsor
298 Previous Clinical Trials
107,829 Total Patients Enrolled
9 Trials studying Autism Spectrum Disorder
655 Patients Enrolled for Autism Spectrum Disorder
Southwest Autism Research and Resource Center (SARRC)UNKNOWN
1 Previous Clinical Trials
12,000 Total Patients Enrolled
1 Trials studying Autism Spectrum Disorder
12,000 Patients Enrolled for Autism Spectrum Disorder
~17 spots leftby Nov 2025
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