Effectiviteit van mindfulness-based cognitieve therapie voor volwassenen met autisme

Mindfulness seems to be of added value in the treatment of psychological complaints, such as anxiety and depression, in people with autism. This is based on studies on adapted mindfulness-based interventions. However, with a transdiagnostic intervention such as mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) adaptations to the original protocol might not be necessary. In the current study, data were examined from 15 individuals with autism who followed MBCT between July 2012 and May 2018 at the Radboudumc Centre for Mindfulness in Nijmegen. Participants followed the original MBCT protocol in heterogeneous patient groups. Results showed improvements in overall functioning, depressive symptoms, worrying, mindfulness skills, and self-compassion. Twenty percent of participants showed reliable improvement and no participants worsened during MBCT. Offering MBCT this way seems to be feasible and effective for people with autism. This can promote implementation of MBCT for people with autism in regular mental health care.