Breathing exercises for stress and heart rhythm in autistic young adults
Tests two guided breathing exercises for stress in autistic young adults.
Plain-language title generated from the registry record
Registry title: Promoting Emotional and Autonomic Control Through Guided Breathing Exercises for Emerging Adults With Autism
Key facts
- Where
- Leuven, BelgiumSee the 2 sites
Could this be for you?
Answer for yourself. This is not a decision: only the study team can say whether you can take part.
- Are you between 16 and 25 years old?
Source: NCT07238153, who can take part
Where in Belgium
- KU LeuvenLeuven, BelgiumTaking people
- UPC Z.OrgLeuven, BelgiumNot yet recruiting
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Trial details
- Who runs it
- Universitaire Ziekenhuizen KU Leuven
- Trial code
- NCT07238153
- Record updated
- 29 April 2026
- Original description
This study examines the impact of guided breathing exercises on stress and heart rate variability (HRV) in autistic young adults. It explores how daily movement behavior (sleep, physical activity and sedentary behavior) influences HRV and to what extent two guided breathing exercises can affect HRV. Additionally, the study investigates how participants perceive the exercises in terms of usability and usefulness.Read full original descriptionShow less
Promoting Emotional and Autonomic Control Through Guided Breathing Exercises for Emerging Adults With Autism
This study examines the impact of guided breathing exercises on stress and heart rate variability (HRV) in autistic young adults. It explores how daily movement behavior (sleep, physical activity and sedentary behavior) influences HRV and to what extent two guided breathing exercises can affect HRV. Additionally, the study investigates how participants perceive the exercises in terms of usability and usefulness.
Inclusion: For participants ≥18 years a voluntary written informed consent and for participants < 18 years a written informed consent from the parents or their legally authorized representative and an informed assent of the participant has been obtained prior to any screening procedures; Male or Female (biological); Between 16 and 25 years old; Diagnosis of autism as described in the DSM-IV/DSM-5(-TR).
Exclusion: Participant has a history of congenital heart diseases, diagnosed cardiovascular abnormalities or somatic diseases conditions that may interfere with the main outcome measure HRV or with the safe practice of breathing exercises (e.g., uncontrolled epilepsy, severe respiratory illness); Presence of contra-indications for participating (intervention and/or assessment): acute agitation and/or severe psychiatric symptoms (psychosis, mania or major depression) and/or active substance use; The use of medication known to affect cardiac modulation (excluding hormonal contraceptives); Hearing- or vision impairment that cannot be corrected to normal functioning; The presence of an intellectual disability, defined as an intelligence quotient < 70, as described in the DSM-IV/DSM-V; Insufficient knowledge of Dutch language in order to follow instructions and fill out questionnaires; Female who is pregnant; Participation in another interventional study, with or without an investigational medicinal product (IMP) or device (IMD).