A Mindfulness-based Intervention for Self-Management of Verbal and Physical Aggression by Adolescents with Prader-Willi Syndrome

Authors

Nirbhay N. Singh, Georgia Regents University
Giulio E. Lancioni, University of Bari
Rachel E. Myers, Kennesaw State UniversityFollow
Bryan T. Karazsia, The College of Wooster

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

3-28-2016

Abstract

PURPOSE: There is a dearth of clinical and research literature on the treatment of maladaptive behaviors in adolescents with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a mindfulness-based intervention, Meditation on the Soles of the Feet (SoF), to facilitate self-management of verbal and physical aggression. METHOD: We utilized a multiple-baseline design across participants to test the intervention with three adolescents diagnosed with PWS. RESULTS: Relative to baseline, verbal aggression decreased to minimal levels following mindfulness-based practice and physical aggression was nearly eliminated. Intervention effects were maintained at 12-month follow-up. Quantitative analytics confirmed statistically significant outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: The SoF mindfulness intervention was effective in reducing verbal and physical aggression in three adolescents with PWS. Future research should test the SoF intervention with this clinical population in a larger clinical trial, and the SoF intervention may be applicable to other pediatric populations.

Journal Title

Developmental Neurorehabilitation

Journal ISSN

1751-8431

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.3109/17518423.2016.1141436