ABSTRACT
We conducted an open-trial proof of concept study to determine the safety, acceptability, and feasibility of Mindful Self-Care for Caregivers (MSCC) for parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) (N = 13). The intervention was offered as a co-located care model in a pediatric specialty center where the participants' children received care. Results demonstrated that the intervention was: highly acceptable to all stakeholders (i.e., participants, the group facilitator, and center administration) and could be conducted safely by a masters-level practitioner with minimal resources. Further, secondary measures support a hypothesized interventional model of MSCC, demonstrating gains in mindfulness skills and sense of competency in the parenting role reduced perceived stress and depression in parents of children with ASD.
Subject(s)
Autism Spectrum Disorder , Mindfulness , Child , Humans , Caregivers , Mindfulness/methods , Self Care , Proof of Concept Study , Autism Spectrum Disorder/therapy , Parents , ParentingABSTRACT
Varicella-zoster virus vaccination is recommended for virtually all young children in the United States, Canada, and several other countries. Varicella vaccine is a live attenuated virus that retains some of its neurotropic properties. Herpes zoster caused by vaccine virus still occurs in immunized children, although the rate is much lower than in children who had wild-type varicella. It was commonly thought that 2 varicella vaccinations would protect children against the most serious complication of meningitis following herpes zoster; however, 2 meningitis cases have already been published. We now report a third case of varicella vaccine meningitis and define risk factors shared by all 3 immunized adolescents. The diagnosis in cerebrospinal fluid in this third case was verified by amplifying and sequencing portions of the viral genome, to document fixed alleles found only in the vaccine strain. Viral antibody was also detected in the cerebrospinal fluid by confocal microscopy. When compared with the other 2 cases, remarkably all 3 were 14 years old when meningitis occurred. All 3 were treated with intravenous acyclovir, with complete recovery. The adolescent in our case report also had recurrent asthma, which was treated with both prednisone tablets and beclomethasone inhaler before onset of meningitis. When the 3 cases were considered together, they suggested that immunity to varicella-zoster virus may be waning sufficiently in some twice-immunized adolescents to make them vulnerable to varicella vaccine virus reactivation and subsequent meningitis. This complication rarely happens in children after wild-type varicella.
