Volume 17 Num. 3 - October 2017
A Pilot Study of the Efficacy of a Mindfulness Program for Children Newly Diagnosed with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: Impact on Core Symptoms and Executive Functions
Volume 17 Num. 3 - October 2017 - Pages 305-316
Authors:
Anna Huguet , Dolores Miguel Ruiz , Josep Maria Haro , José A Alda
jalda@sjdhospitalbarcelona.org
Abstract:
Mindfulness has emerged as a new approach for treating mental disorders. The aim of this study is to investigate preliminary efficacy of group-based mindfulness meditation training for children on core symptoms, executive functioning and comorbidity symptoms in a children naïve Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) sample. Five children aged 7-12 years newly diagnosed with ADHD received an eight-week group-based mindfulness treatment. The program consisted of once-per-week sessions lasting 75 minutes and daily homework assignments. The study assessments included pre-and posttest measure of psychiatric symptoms and cognitive functioning. Data were analyzed using Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Pre-post improvements in ADHD symptoms and test performance on tasks measuring executive functioning were noted. Significant results were observed in total ADHD symptoms (p= .042), anxiety symptoms (p= .042), cognitive inhibition (p= .042) and processing speed (p= .043). In summary, although the sample size was small, our pilot study suggests that mindfulness training for children is a feasible intervention in at least a subset of ADHD children and may improve behavioral and neurocognitive impairments.
How to cite this paper: Huguet A, Miguel-Ruiz D, Haro JM, & Alda JA (2017). Efficacy of a Mindfulness Program for Children Newly Diagnosed with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Impact on Core Symptoms and Executive Functions: A Pilot Study. International Journal of Psychology & Psychological Therapy, 17, 305-316.
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