Mindfulness meditation training in adults and adolescents with ADHD: a feasibility study.
OBJECTIVE
ADHD is a childhood-onset psychiatric condition that often continues into adulthood. Stimulant medications are the mainstay of treatment; however, additional approaches are frequently desired. In recent years, mindfulness meditation has been proposed to improve attention, reduce stress, and improve mood. This study tests the feasibility of an 8-week mindfulness training program for adults and adolescents with ADHD.


METHODS
Twenty-four adults and eight adolescents with ADHD enrolled in a feasibility study of an 8-week mindfulness training program.


RESULTS
The majority of participants completed the training and reported high satisfaction with the training. Pre-post improvements in self-reported ADHD symptoms and test performance on tasks measuring attention and cognitive inhibition were noted. Improvements in anxiety and depressive symptoms were also observed.


CONCLUSIONS
Mindfulness training is a feasible intervention in a subset of ADHD adults and adolescents and may improve behavioral and neurocognitive impairments. A controlled clinical study is warranted.
Zylowska
Lidia
L
University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA. lzylowsk@ucla.edu
Ackerman
Deborah L
DL
Yang
May H
MH
Futrell
Julie L
JL
Horton
Nancy L
NL
Hale
T Sigi
TS
Pataki
Caroly
C
Smalley
Susan L
SL
D000293:Adolescent; D000339:Affect; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019122:Meditation; D008875:Middle Aged; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000517:prevention & control; D013663:Teaching