Caregiver StressSMARTNCT04243694
Sustainable Mindfulness and Resilience Training (SMART)
A study testing Mindfulness training in people with Caregiver Stress and Autism Spectrum Disorder, run by University of California, San Francisco at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
Investigators are proposing a 6-week mindfulness and resilience training intervention tailored for caregivers of children with autism. Investigators will assess increases the caregiver's well-being and levels of psychological acceptance of their life situation as it relates to their child with autism. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 20 to 60 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Caregiver Stress, Autism Spectrum Disorder
- What is being tested?
- Mindfulness training
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 0 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 1 Jan 2020to 1 Jul 2020
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 20 to 60 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Age 20-60 years old
- Full time caregiver for a child with ASD, aged 3 to 12
- Child diagnosed with ASD for a minimum of 6 months
- English Speaking
Who cannot join
- Any conditions that may make it difficult to participate in a mindfulness group (e.g., psychotic disorder, personality disorder)
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
United States1 site
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, California, 94118
About this study
Investigators are proposing a 6-week mindfulness and resilience training intervention tailored for caregivers of children with autism. Investigators will assess increases the caregiver's well-being and levels of psychological acceptance of their life situation as it relates to their child with autism. The mindfulness training focuses on self-regulation of emotional responses and acceptance of internal experiences. Self-report measures and qualitative interviews will be administered at baseline and post-intervention. Investigators will compare the active group to a control group of caregivers who are on the waitlist to receive the intervention.
Read the detailed description
Investigators will prospectively examine a sample comprised of parental caregivers (ages 20 to 60) of children with autism spectrum disorder (ages 3 to 12) to determine how responses to the chronic stress of caregiving may contribute to psychological distress (e.g depression, caregiving burden, self-reported sleep).
All participants:
Participants will be randomized into the active group vs. wait list control group. Investigators will assess indices of psychological health at 2 time points over 6 weeks (length of intervention) - a Baseline Assessment, and a Follow-up Assessment. Both baseline and follow-up assessments include the same battery of questionnaires.
Daily/nightly diaries will also be completed by participants in the 7 days leading up to the baseline and follow-up time points.
In addition to self-report measures, investigators will conduct a 20-25 minute qualitative interview with caregivers both pre and post-intervention. The interview is optional and will be conducted via telephone before beginning the six-week course and within two weeks of finishing the course. The interview will be used to assess caregiver's acceptance of their child's condition and better understand their personal perception of their own acceptance. Interviews questions will be open-ended and may be modified based on the caregiver's response. An example question includes, "How hard has it been to accept your child has ASD?
Control group only:
The control group will be waitlisted and enrolled in the next 6-week mindfulness course. Investigators expect the next mindfulness course for the waitlist control group to be held within 1-3 months of the initial active group course.
Active group only:
The active group will participate in a mindfulness resilience training intervention. The intervention consists of weekly 2 hour classes held at UCSF Parnassus Campus over the course of 6 weeks. The study PI, Dr. Elissa Epel, will lead the intervention classes teaching the fundamentals of mindfulness training. The training focuses on acceptance and awareness of the present moment.
- Conditions
- Caregiver Stress, Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Being tested
- Mindfulness training
- Keywords
- caregiver stress, caregiver, parent, asd, autism, autism spectrum disorder
- Medical subject headings
- Caregiver Burden, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Child Development Disorders, Pervasive, Autistic Disorder
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Mindfulness trainingBehavioural
Participants of the intervention group will receive 6-weeks of mindfulness training.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Intervention group | Experimental | mindfulness intervention administered Receives: Behavioral: Mindfulness training |
| Control group | No intervention | no intervention administered |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Acceptance of child's diagnosis: Acceptance of Diagnosis of Autism-modified scale
Measured by the Acceptance of Diagnosis of Autism-modified scale (example item "I have a greater acceptance of my child's challenges than I used to.")
Measured: 6 weeks
Acceptance of one's negative experiences (experiential avoidance, negative emotions and thoughts): Acceptance and Action Questionnaire
Measured by the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire (example item rating on a scale "I'm afraid of my feelings", the Brief Experiential Avoidance Questionnaire (measures intentional avoidance of thoughts, feelings and experiences associated with distress), and the Self Compassion Scale (measures the degree to which individuals display self-kindness against self-judgment, common humanity versus isolation, and mindfulness versus over-identification).
Measured: 6 weeks
Acceptance of one's momentary situation as assessed by daily mind states (mind wandering, rejection vs. engagement in current moment): daily diary assessments
Measured by daily diary assessments
Measured: 6 weeks
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted28 Jan 2020
- Study start1 Jan 2020
- Primary completion1 Jul 2020
- Study completion1 Jul 2020
Why it stopped: Reduction in funding.
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Caregiver StressStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by University of California, San FranciscoThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Crossover
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 0 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of California, San Francisco
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Elissa Epel, PhD, Principal investigator, University of California, San Francisco
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT04243694
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 19-27771
- Acronym
- SMART
- Status last verified
- Jan 2021
- First submitted
- 7 Oct 2019
- Last updated
- 20 Jan 2021
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 20 Jan 2021. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Sustainable Mindfulness and Resilience Training (SMART)
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT04243694
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- SMART / 19-27771
- Conditions
- Caregiver Stress, Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Keywords
- caregiver stress, caregiver, parent, asd, autism, autism spectrum disorder
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- WithdrawnReason stopped: Reduction in funding.
- Enrolment
- 0 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- University of California, San FranciscoUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Jan 2020 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 1 Jul 2020 (actual)
- Study completion
- 1 Jul 2020 (actual)
- First posted
- 28 Jan 2020 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Investigators are proposing a 6-week mindfulness and resilience training intervention tailored for caregivers of children with autism. Investigators will assess increases the caregiver's well-being and levels of psychological acceptance of their life situation as it relates to their child with autism. The mindfulness training focuses on self-regulation of emotional responses and acceptance of internal experiences. Self-report measures and qualitative interviews will be administered at baseline and post-intervention. Investigators will compare the active group to a control group of caregivers who are on the waitlist to receive the intervention.
Detailed description
Investigators will prospectively examine a sample comprised of parental caregivers (ages 20 to 60) of children with autism spectrum disorder (ages 3 to 12) to determine how responses to the chronic stress of caregiving may contribute to psychological distress (e.g depression, caregiving burden, self-reported sleep).
All participants:
Participants will be randomized into the active group vs. wait list control group. Investigators will assess indices of psychological health at 2 time points over 6 weeks (length of intervention) - a Baseline Assessment, and a Follow-up Assessment. Both baseline and follow-up assessments include the same battery of questionnaires.
Daily/nightly diaries will also be completed by participants in the 7 days leading up to the baseline and follow-up time points.
In addition to self-report measures, investigators will conduct a 20-25 minute qualitative interview with caregivers both pre and post-intervention. The interview is optional and will be conducted via telephone before beginning the six-week course and within two weeks of finishing the course. The interview will be used to assess caregiver's acceptance of their child's condition and better understand their personal perception of their own acceptance. Interviews questions will be open-ended and may be modified based on the caregiver's response. An example question includes, "How hard has it been to accept your child has ASD?
Control group only:
The control group will be waitlisted and enrolled in the next 6-week mindfulness course. Investigators expect the next mindfulness course for the waitlist control group to be held within 1-3 months of the initial active group course.
Active group only:
The active group will participate in a mindfulness resilience training intervention. The intervention consists of weekly 2 hour classes held at UCSF Parnassus Campus over the course of 6 weeks. The study PI, Dr. Elissa Epel, will lead the intervention classes teaching the fundamentals of mindfulness training. The training focuses on acceptance and awareness of the present moment.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Crossover
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Intervention group | Experimental | Behavioral: Mindfulness trainingmindfulness intervention administered |
| Control group | No intervention | –no intervention administered |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 20 to 60 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Age 20-60 years old
- Full time caregiver for a child with ASD, aged 3 to 12
- Child diagnosed with ASD for a minimum of 6 months
- English Speaking
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Any conditions that may make it difficult to participate in a mindfulness group (e.g., psychotic disorder, personality disorder)
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness trainingParticipants of the intervention group will receive 6-weeks of mindfulness training. | Behavioural | Intervention group |
Primary outcome
Acceptance of child's diagnosis: Acceptance of Diagnosis of Autism-modified scale
Time frame: 6 weeks
Measured by the Acceptance of Diagnosis of Autism-modified scale (example item "I have a greater acceptance of my child's challenges than I used to.")
Acceptance of one's negative experiences (experiential avoidance, negative emotions and thoughts): Acceptance and Action Questionnaire
Time frame: 6 weeks
Measured by the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire (example item rating on a scale "I'm afraid of my feelings", the Brief Experiential Avoidance Questionnaire (measures intentional avoidance of thoughts, feelings and experiences associated with distress), and the Self Compassion Scale (measures the degree to which individuals display self-kindness against self-judgment, common humanity versus isolation, and mindfulness versus over-identification).
Acceptance of one's momentary situation as assessed by daily mind states (mind wandering, rejection vs. engagement in current moment): daily diary assessments
Time frame: 6 weeks
Measured by daily diary assessments
Results and safety
The study was withdrawn before enrolling participants, so there are no results.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 20 Jan 2021.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Elissa Epel, PhD principal investigator
University of California, San Francisco
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Mindfulness training in people with Caregiver Stress and Autism Spectrum Disorder, run by University of California, San Francisco at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 1 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: withdrawn, as of the sponsor's last update on 20 Jan 2021. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study was withdrawn before enrolling participants, so there are no results.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Acceptance of child's diagnosis: Acceptance of Diagnosis of Autism-modified scale (time frame: 6 weeks). The study lists 3 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 20 Jan 2021; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 5 Nov 2026.