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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2022 Dec;52(12):5403-5413.
doi: 10.1007/s10803-021-05399-6. Epub 2022 Jan 18.

A Longitudinal RCT of P-ESDM With and Without Parental Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction: Impact on Child Outcomes

Amy S Weitlauf  1 , Neill Broderick  2 , J Alacia Stainbrook  2 , James C Slaughter  3 , Julie Lounds Taylor  2 , Catherine G Herrington  2 , Amy G Nicholson  2   4 , Madeline Santulli  2 , Kristin Dorris  2 , LaTamara Jackson Garrett  2 , Michelle Hopton  2 , Amy Kinsman  2 , Mary Morton  2 , Ashley Vogel  2 , Elisabeth M Dykens  2   4   5 , A Pablo Juárez  2   4   6 , Zachary E Warren  2   4   5
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

A Longitudinal RCT of P-ESDM With and Without Parental Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction: Impact on Child Outcomes

Amy S Weitlauf et al. J Autism Dev Disord. 2022 Dec.

Abstract

This randomized controlled trial (NCT03889821) examined Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) in conjunction with the Parent-implemented Early Start Denver Model (P-ESDM). A previous report described improved metrics of parental distress (Weitlauf et al. in Pediatrics 145(Supplement 1):S81-S92, 2020). This manuscript examines child outcomes. 63 children with ASD (< 36 months) and their parents received 12 P-ESDM sessions. Half of parents also received MBSR. Longitudinal examination of whole sample means revealed modest improvements in autism severity, cognitive, and adaptive skills. There was not a significant time × group interaction for children whose parents received MBSR. Future work should examine more proximal markers of child or dyadic change to enhance understanding of the impact of providing direct treatment for parents as part of early intervention initiatives.

Keywords: Autism spectrum disorder; Mindfulness; P-ESDM; Young children.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations

Conflict of Interest: The authors have no financial relationships or conflicts of interest relevant to this article to disclose.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Group comparison for ADOS Severity Score, Overall IQ score, and Vineland ABC.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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