Telehealth mindfulness program for adolescents with autism and their caregivers

Telehealth Mindfulness-based Intervention for Adolescents With Autism Spectrum Disorder and Their Caregivers

This study tests whether an 8-week telehealth group mindfulness program plus daily app use can reduce depression and anxiety in autistic adolescents compared with using a mindfulness app alone.

Quick facts

• Phase: Not applicable
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 160 (estimated)
• Ages: 13 Years to 18 Years
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center (Academic / other)
• Locations: 1 site (Phoenix, Arizona)
• Trial ID: NCT07501286 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This randomized interventional trial compares an 8-week MINDful TIME program—weekly 90-minute Zoom group sessions attended by the adolescent together with a parent or caregiver plus daily app practice—against an active control of daily use of a mindfulness meditation mobile app. Participants complete virtual intake, baseline, weekly electronic meditation diaries, and follow-up visits conducted remotely. Eligibility is limited to English-speaking, verbally communicative adolescents aged 13–18 with a confirmed ASD diagnosis and IQ ≥70, and caregivers must be available to join sessions. The trial is run through the Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center with data collected entirely via telehealth visits and electronic measures.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Adolescents aged 13–18 with a confirmed ASD diagnosis, who are verbally communicative, have IQ ≥70, speak English, and have a caregiver able to participate are the ideal candidates.

Not a fit: Non-verbal adolescents, those with intellectual disability (IQ <70), or individuals with physical or co-occurring conditions that prevent participation are unlikely to benefit from this specific intervention as tested.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the intervention could reduce anxiety and depression symptoms in autistic adolescents and improve coping skills while also providing structured caregiver support.

How similar studies have performed: Small pilot studies and feasibility trials of mindfulness approaches in autistic youth have shown promise for reducing anxiety and improving mood, but larger randomized comparisons remain limited.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

* Adolescents must be ages 13 to 18 years
* Formal clinical or educational ASD diagnosis confirmed by the study team (i.e., review of formal diagnostic report from the diagnosing practitioner or Multidisciplinary Evaluation Team report (MET) shared with the research team by the family) )
* Must be willing to be randomized to a treatment or delayed treatment control group
* Must be able to attend at least 7 of the 8 group meetings
* English speaking: Adolescents and their parent/caregivers must be English-speaking because the screening and behavioral measures are in English, as well as the intervention content

Exclusion Criteria:

* Non-verbal participants will be excluded to ensure test compliance and increase sample homogeneity.
* Participants with IQ scores \<70 will be excluded because the intervention was developed for individuals without intellectual disability.
* Participants with a physical disability or co-occurring condition that may prevent participation in the weekly group meetings (e.g., selective mutism; aggressive behavior; inability to participate in a 90-minute video conference meeting each week)
* Participants who report active suicidal ideation

Where this trial is running

Phoenix, Arizona

• Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center — Phoenix, Arizona, United States (Recruiting)

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Nicole Matthews, Ph.D. — Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center
• Study coordinator: Olivia Melita

Conditions Autism Spectrum Disorder