A trial of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for caregivers

INTERVENTION: Random assignment will occur after baseline assessment is complete. Once participants are deemed eligible for the study (following telephone screening) they are randomized to treatment immediately or waitlist control condition using a randomly generated list obtained from the following site: https://www.randomizer.org/ The intervention is a brief Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) workshop. ACT helps people to become more aware of their thoughts and feelings, develop acceptance of their difficult experiences, and commit to acting in ways that align with their personal values. The workshop is spread over 3 sessions: one evening, followed by a full day, and a 'refresher' evening 4 weeks later. Parents learn about the ACT model through group experiential activities emphasizing links between emotions, thoughts, behaviours and values, and they gain introductory exposure to mindfulness skills. Workshops are co‐facilitated by a clinician and a trained parent of an individual with autism. For a detailed description of the intervention, see: Fung, K., Steel, L., Bryce, K., Lake, J., & Lunsky, Y. (2018). Using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. A Guide to Programs for Parenting Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Intellectual Disabilities or Developmental Disabilities: Evidence‐Based Guidance for Professionals, 233‐250. CONDITION: Parents of children with autism ; Mental and Behavioural Disorders ; Childhood autism PRIMARY OUTCOME: Psychological distress, measured using the Depression and Stress subscales of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS14). All measures will be administered at baseline, after which parents will be randomized to treatment and waitlist groups. All measures will be re‐administered 6 weeks and 18 weeks post‐randomization. Parents will be additionally asked to complete a subset of the survey measures, including the DASS14, at 2 weeks post‐randomization. INCLUSION CRITERIA: 1. Child diagnosis of autism 2. Proficiency in English 3. Ability to identify therapy goals SECONDARY OUTCOME: ; 1. Health and isolation, measured using the Isolation and Health subscales from the Parenting Stress Index (PSI‐4); 2. Psychological acceptance, measured using the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire (AAQ‐II); 3. Cognitive fusion, measured using the Cognitive Fusion Questionnaire (CFQ); 4. Consistency of actions toward values, measured using the Valued Living Questionnaire (VLQ); 5. Mindfulness behaviours, measured using the Bangor Mindful Parenting Scale (BMPS); 6. Movement toward personal goals, measured using Goal Attainment Scaling (GAS); 7. Positive affect, measured using the positive subscale of the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS); 8. Family current level of crisis, measured using the Brief Family Distress Scale (BFDS); 9. Family functioning, measured using the general functioning subscale of the McMaster Family Assessment Device (FAD); 10. Parent‐reported child mental health difficulties, measured using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ); 11. Participant experiences with group facilitators, measured using a feedback form; ; All measures will be administered at baseline, after which parents will be randomized to treatment and waitlist groups. All measures will be re‐administered at 6 weeks and 18 weeks post‐randomization. Parents will be additionally asked to complete a subset of the survey measures (DASS14, PANAS, BFDS, GAS) at 2 weeks post‐randomization.;