Nirbhay N. Singh

Augusta University · Department of Psychiatry

Digital methods in healthcare research have been steadily gaining ground but, until recently, were superseded by conventional face-to-face approaches wherever possible. However, the COVID-19 pandemic rendered in-person forms of data collection largely impossible, propelling digital approaches to the forefront. This book offers a digital lens in the...

Background People with severe or profound intellectual disability and visual impairment tend to have serious problems in orientation and mobility and need assistance for their indoor traveling. The use of technology solutions may be critically important to help them curb those problems and achieve a level of independence. Objective This study aime...

We extended the assessment of our recently developed technology to help people with neuromotor, intellectual, and speech disabilities access (listen to) music, communicate with distant partners, and answer questions. The technology included a tablet (1) fitted with an Internet connection, a SIM card, WhatsApp Messenger, and MacroDroid application,...

Helping people with intellectual and visual disabilities engage in activity and mobility is considered crucially important to promote constructive occupation and a basic form of physical exercise (i.e., objectives that are essential for the individuals’ wellbeing and in line with their rights). This study assessed two new programs aimed at helping...

BACKGROUND People with severe or profound intellectual disability and visual impairment tend to have serious problems in orientation and mobility and need assistance for their indoor traveling. The use of technology solutions may be critically important to help them curb those problems and achieve a level of independence. OBJECTIVE This study aime...

People with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities (PIMD) are generally isolated, with a high risk of reduced stimulation input and physical inactivity. One of the strategies available to mitigate this situation relies on using technology-aided programs delivering stimulation contingent on people’s basic responses/activation. The two studi...

Objectives People with neuro-motor impairment, lack of speech and general passivity live in a marginalized and isolating condition. This study used a technology-aided program to help three of these people achieve basic activity (i.e., accessing music videos and listening to stories and/or answering questions) and communication (i.e., video calling...

BACKGROUND People with intellectual and other disabilities tend to have problems performing multistep tasks. To alleviate their problems, technology solutions have been developed that provide task-step instructions. Instructions are generally delivered on people’s request (e.g., as they touch an area of a computer or tablet screen) or automatically...

Background People with intellectual and sensory or sensory-motor disabilities tend to have problems performing multistep tasks. To alleviate their problems, technological solutions have been developed that provide task-step instructions. Instructions are generally delivered at people’s request (eg, as they touch an area of a computer or tablet scre...

Objectives Research suggests that the quality of life of professional caregivers of individuals with intellectual disabilities and autism spectrum disorder can be enhanced through mindfulness-based training. The effects of such training have been evidenced in terms of perceived psychological stress, compassion satisfaction, compassion fatigue (i.e....

While immunity and psychological distress are strongly associated, studies seldom consider how different types of distress relate to immune functioning. The literature tends to emphasis the impact of stress on immunity. The present cross-sectional study estimated the unique contributions of depression, anxiety, and stress on immune function in cult...

The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) has identified and articulated the rights of people with disabilities, mandating how these rights should be upheld and protected by countries. The objective of this article is to explore how these rights can be translated into action for people with intellectual and developmental disa...

2023) Enabling people with intellectual and other disabilities to make verbal requests using cardboard chips with mini objects or pictures and a smartphone. Front. Objective: This study aimed to help six participants with intellectual disability combined with sensory and motor impairments to make verbal requests through the use of a technology syst...

A healthy immune system is required to protect against viral infection and ensure the efficacy of vaccines. Psychological distress can threaten immune resilience, while mindfulness practices can be protective. In New Zealand, Māori experience significantly higher levels of distress compared to non-Māori. The aim of this study was to explore the rol...

The study assessed a new interactive technology system for helping six people with intellectual and visual disabilities exercise relevant physical responses embedded within a fairly straightforward activity (i.e., placing objects in containers). Activity responses consisted of the participants taking objects from the floor or a low shelf and placin...

Objectives Research suggests that the quality of life of professional caregivers of individuals with intellectual disabilities and autism spectrum disorder can be enhanced through mindfulness-based training. The effects of such training have been evidenced in terms of perceived psychological stress, compassion satisfaction, compassion fatigue (i.e....

Objectives The objective of this study was to examine the effects of Mindfulness-Based Positive Behavior Support (MBPBS) training on the nature of caregiver and client reciprocal interactions at a moment-by-moment level using behavior analytic methodology. Specifically, we compared the behavior of caregivers and clients before and after MBPBS train...

Systems theories emphasize that family units are complex social systems in which interactions among members influence each other’s behavior. This highlights a necessity for family-based interventions to support families with children who have behavioral and emotional problems or have been exposed to domestic violence. There has been a tendency to f...

Introduction Mindfulness-based programmes (MBPs) are widely used to prevent mental ill-health that is becoming the leading global cause of morbidity. Evidence suggests beneficial average effects but wide variability. We aimed to confirm the effect of MBPs on psychological distress, and to understand whether and how baseline distress, gender, age, e...

Objectives The prevalence of overweight and obesity is high in adolescents with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), and the availability of and engagement in self-determined health and wellness programs is limited. The objective of the present study was to assess the effectiveness of the Mindfulness-Based Health Wellness (MBHW) progr...

Objectives This study assessed whether a simple technology-aided program (i.e., a program involving the use of microswitches linked to a smartphone) could be set up to enable people with motor, sensory and intellectual disabilities to control preferred environmental stimulation through two different response movements. Methods Ten participants wer...

BACKGROUND People with motor, visual, and intellectual disabilities may have serious problems in inde-pendently accessing various forms of functional daily occupation OBJECTIVE The study was aimed at developing and assessing new, low-cost technology-aided programs to help people with motor or visual-motor and intellectual disabilities independentl...

Background: People with motor, visual, and intellectual disabilities may have serious problems in independently accessing various forms of functional daily occupation and communication. Objective: The study was aimed at developing and assessing new, low-cost technology-aided programs to help people with motor or visual-motor and intellectual dis...

Response-contingent stimulation is a behavioral strategy used to improve the situation of patients with disorders of consciousness. Such strategy involves the presentation of brief periods (e.g., 10 to 15 s) of stimulation considered preferred by the patients, contingent on (immediately after) the emission of specific patients’ responses. The aim i...

People with mild to moderate intellectual or multiple disabilities may have serious difficulties in accessing leisure events, managing communication exchanges with distant partners, and performing functional daily activities. Recently, efforts were made to develop and assess technology-aided programs aimed at supporting people in all three areas (i...

Objectives Early Buddhist thought clearly recognizes the need for learning how to face one’s own mortality, for which purpose mindfulness practice has a central role to play. Fear of death has also been studied in cognitive psychology, leading to what is known as the terror management theory. Actual research evidence in psychology has already shown...

BACKGROUND: People with severe/profound intellectual and multiple disabilities often need support for their occupational engagement. OBJECTIVE: This study assessed a smartphone-based intervention program to strengthen a functional object manipulation response (i.e., collecting and putting away objects) and possibly improve the mood of five adult pa...

Objectives The study assessed a smartphone-based technology system, which was designed to enable six participants with intellectual disability and sensory impairment to start and carry out functional activities through the use of reminders and verbal or pictorial instructions. Methods The technology system involved a Samsung Galaxy A22 with Androi...

Objectives This paper describes and integrates self-determination and mindfulness research in intellectual and developmental disability, with a focus on how both approaches shift the focus to intervening from the “inside out” rather than from the “outside in.” Methods A targeted overview of self-determination and mindfulness research in intellectu...

Background: People with intellectual and multiple disabilities tend to engage in very low levels of physical activity. Objective: This review paper aims to provide a comprehensive picture of intervention programs using stimulation-regulating technologies to promote forms of physical activity in people with intellectual and multiple disabilities. Me...

Objectives The study assessed a smartphone-based technology system, which was designed to support functional occupation and mobility in people with severe to profound intellectual disability and visual impairment. Methods The technology system provided (a) verbal orientation cues to guide the participants to a desk with two containers (and two gro...

Mindfulness-based programs are a promising intervention modality for reducing disruptive behavior, and Soles of the Feet (SOF) is one program that teaches internal awareness of personal events (e.g., unpleasant emotions) and a self-regulation strategy to decrease disruptive behaviors. This study conducted a meta-analysis of single-case research des...

The study assessed a new smartphone-based program to enable five adults with moderate intellectual disabilities and visual or visual-motor impairments to independently access leisure events, communication with distant partners, and functional activities. The program was evaluated through a non-concurrent multiple baseline design across participants...

Objectives The social unrest that began in Hong Kong in 2019 became a threat to public mental health, such as for depression and post-traumatic stress disorders. A supportive family environment is the most effective protective factor for mental health problems for young people who are exposed to conflict and violence. This study investigated the ou...

Objectives The rising interest in mindfulness-based programs in education reflects a growing need for schools to respond to the wellbeing of educators. Benefits of mindfulness-based programs have been largely measured at an individual educator level with less attention paid to group processes and their effects. The objectives of the present study w...

BACKGROUND People with intellectual and multiple disabilities tend to engage in very low levels of physical activity. OBJECTIVE This review paper aims to provide a comprehensive picture of intervention programs using stimulation-regulating technologies to promote forms of physical activity in people with intellectual and multiple disabilities. ME...

Purpose This study assessed everyday technology to help eight participants with intellectual and sensory-motor disabilities access stimulation via functional arm/hand responses and improved body posture. Methods An ABABB¹BB¹ design was used for each participant, with A representing baseline phases, B intervention phases in which arm/hand responses...

Background: Persons with severe/profound intellectual disability and visual impairment tend to be passive and sedentary and technology-aided intervention may be required to improve their condition without excessive demands on staff time. Objective: This study was aimed at (a) extending the assessment of technology-aided intervention to support func...

Objectives Adolescents with autism often experience comorbid internalizing disorders such as anxiety disorders or depression but the available evidence-based treatments to support the mental health of adolescents with autism are limited. The aim of this study was to investigate if and how MYmind, a mindfulness-based program (MBP) for youth with aut...

BACKGROUND: Music stimulation is considered to be a valuable form of intervention for people with severe brain injuries and prolonged disorders of consciousness (i.e., unresponsive wakefulness/vegetative state or minimally conscious state). OBJECTIVE: This review was intended to provide an overall picture of work conducted during the last deca...

BACKGROUND Persons with severe or profound intellectual disability and visual impairment tend to be passive and sedentary, and technology-aided intervention may be required to improve their condition without excessive demands on staff time. OBJECTIVE This study aims to extend the assessment of technology-aided interventions for supporting function...

The benefits of mindfulness are widely recognized, and it has received increasing research attention. Recently, researchers have extended the concept and practice of mindfulness to the parent–child relationship and proposed the construct of mindful parenting, that is, parenting with mindfulness. However, mindful parenting is a relatively new concep...

BACKGROUND: People with severe to profound intellectual disabilities and visual or motor impairment tend to be detached and sedentary. OBJECTIVE: The present study assessed a technology-aided intervention to promote ambulation in four people with severe to profound intellectual disability combined with blindness or deafness and spasticity. METHOD:...

Music stimulation is considered to be a valuable form of intervention for people with severe brain injuries and prolonged disorders of consciousness (i.e., unresponsive wakefulness/vegetative state or minimally conscious state). This review was intended to provide an overall picture of work conducted during the last decade to assess the impact of m...

Objectives Self-injurious behavior (SIB) refers to any repeated self-directed, non-suicidal, behavior that may cause or has the potential to cause physical harm to the person’s body. Behavioral interventions provide the standard evidence-based treatments for SIB by people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and intellectual disabilities (ID). Trans...

In recent years, mindfulness-based programs and practices have been recognized as effective treatment and training approaches congruent with Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) principles and applications. In this chapter, we introduce definitions of mindfulness and possible mechanisms of its actions as used in the context of anger and aggression manag...

Purpose This paper provides a review of studies that evaluated technology devices to sustain various forms of mobility in older people with cognitive impairment or dementia and mobility problems (e.g., inability to ambulate or difficulties to orient with consequent failures to reach relevant destinations). Methods A literature search was performed...

Objectives Considering the Western-Eastern cultural differences in parenting practices, as well as the relative paucity of research on the use of mindfulness-based programs by Chinese parents, we replicated a recently proposed Western model of mindfulness. The purpose of this study was to test the direct and indirect relations between parents’ disp...

People with severe/profound and multiple disabilities may receive insufficient stimulation and correspondingly show low levels of happiness (satisfaction). Various stimulation strategies have been proposed to address this situation. This study aimed to extend the assessment of two of those strategies (i.e., self-regulated and staff-regulated stimul...

Objectives Mindfulness-Based Positive Behavior Support (MBPBS) has been shown to be effective in reducing stress and burnout in parents and professional caregivers of children and adolescents with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The aim of this study was to assess the comparative effects of the...

Objectives: Caring for individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID) or autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can be gratifying as well as stressful. Professional staff employed as caregivers often report compromised mental and physical wellbeing due to the stressful nature of working with clients who exhibit aggressive and destructive behaviors. Prolon...

Objectives Self-compassion has become increasingly recognized for its benefits to human health and well-being, but continued work is required to achieve its accurate assessment in the context of research and psychological treatment. The Self-Compassion Scale (SCS) is widely referred to as a trait measure, although the scale’s ability to differentia...

Purpose This study assessed a new technology system to help six participants with intellectual and visual disabilities manage leisure engagement and communication with distant partners in an independent manner. Methods A nonconcurrent multiple baseline design across participants was used to assess the effects of the new technology system. This inc...

Background Smartphone-aided programs were recently developed to support leisure engagement and communication with distant partners in individuals with special needs. This study evaluated an extended smartphone-aided program that supported daily activities in addition to communication and leisure in individuals with intellectual and visual or visuo-...

Objectives The present study evaluated a new smartphone-based program to help 12 participants with intellectual disability plus visual and motor impairments to self-regulate their stimulation input (thus avoiding their dependence on staff) through simple non-verbal responses. Method Nonconcurrent multiple baseline designs across participants were...

The 10-item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) is the most widely used measure of perceived stress, yet its ability to distinguish between enduring and dynamic aspects of stress and temporal reliability have not been yet investigated using appropriate methodology. Generalizability theory is suitable for this purpose and was applied to investigate psyc...

Implementation science deals with the translation of evidence-based knowledge into practice in the real world. Mindfulness-based programs for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) emerged about 20 years ago. Efficacy and effectiveness studies provide the evidence-base for these programs and the field of IDD is moving towards...

Objective To assess a simple technology solution to support basic communication and leisure in people with neurological disorders, extensive motor impairment, and absence of speech. Design The design was a non-concurrent multiple baseline across participants. Methods The study included eight participants and assessed a technology setup including...

Background. People with intellectual disability and motor impairment have reduced opportunities to participate in recreational and communication activities. Objective. This study reports on the evaluation of a new tablet-based program to help seven participants with mild/moderate or moderate intellectual disability, motor impairment, and limited co...

Objectives Preschool years provide a window of opportunity to enhance attentional flexibility, increase inhibitory control, build resilience, and strengthen emotion regulation in children. We assessed the effectiveness of a mindfulness-based social-emotional learning program—OpenMind-Korea (OM-K)—on preschool children’s emotion regulation, resilien...

Objective: The study evaluated a smartphone-aided program to support independent access to leisure events and performance of daily activities in seven participants with moderate intellectual disability, four of whom also had severe hearing loss. Method: The program relied on the use of a Samsung Galaxy J4 Plus smartphone with Android 9.0 operating...

Caregivers of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities are often stressed due to the demands of the job, including the nature and severity of challenging behaviors of the clients, work conditions, degree of management support for the staff, and the demands of implementing some interventions under adverse conditions. Mindfulness-...

Background: Individuals with extensive neuro-motor impairment and lack of speech tend to remain passive and isolated, and to rely on others for communication and leisure. While their problems are known, only limited evidence is available about intervention tools that could help them curb those problems. Objective: This study was aimed at upgradi...

Purpose: This study was aimed at assessing a smartphone-based intervention to help 11 individuals with moderate Alzheimer’s disease and ambulation problems to manage goal-directed, walker-assisted ambulation and object use (i.e., to reach specific destinations and put away objects at those destinations independently). Method: The study was carried...

Objectives: This study assessed a smartphone-based program to promote practical and mildly demanding arm responses and personal satisfaction and increase physical exertion (heart rates) in people with advanced Alzheimer's disease. Methods: The program relied on a Samsung Galaxy A3 smartphone with Android 6.0 operating system. Two groups of 10 an...