A mindfulness-based intervention for self-management of verbal and physical aggression by adolescents with Prader–Willi syndrome

Publication Date

7-2017

Document Type

Article

Volume

20

Issue

5

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.

Keywords

aggression, Prader–Willi syndrome, intervention, mindfulness, soles of the feet meditation

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