title: Mindfulness-Based Interventions in Clinical Samples of Adolescents with Chronic Illness: A Systematic Review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) have emerged as a promising strategy for individuals with a chronic illness, given their versatility in targeting both physical and mental health outcomes. However, research to date has focused on adult or community-based populations.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To systematically review and critically appraise MBIs in clinical pediatric samples living with chronic physical illness.
  
  
  METHODS
  Electronic searches were conducted by a Library Information Specialist familiar with the field by using EMBASE, PsycINFO, MEDLINE, CINAHL, Web of Science, and EBM Reviews databases. Study Eligibility, Participants, and Interventions: Published English peer-reviewed articles of MBIs in clinical samples of children and adolescents (3-18 years) with chronic physical illness.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two reviewers independently selected articles for review and extracted data. Results are narratively described, and the reporting quality of each study was assessed via the STROBE Checklist.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of a total 4710 articles, 8 articles met inclusion criteria. All studies were small (n < 20, except 1 study of n = 59), included only outpatient adolescent samples, and focused on feasibility and acceptability of MBI; only 1 study included a comparison group (n = 1). No studies included online components or remote attendance. All studies found that MBI was acceptable to adolescents, whereas feasibility and implementation outcomes were mixed. Many studies were underpowered to detect significant differences post-MBI, but MBI did demonstrate improvements in emotional distress in several studies. Conclusions and Implications of Key Findings: The literature on MBIs is preliminary in nature, focusing on adapting and developing MBI for adolescents. Although MBIs appear to be a promising approach to coping with symptoms related to chronic illness in adolescents, future research with adequate sample sizes and rigorous research designs is warranted.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Psychology, Hospital for Sick Children , Toronto, Canada .|2 Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto , Toronto, Canada .
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ahola Kohut
authors.affiliation: 2 Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto , Toronto, Canada .|3 Child Health Evaluative Sciences, Hospital for Sick Children , Toronto, Canada .
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stinson
authors.affiliation: 3 Child Health Evaluative Sciences, Hospital for Sick Children , Toronto, Canada .
authors.forename: Cleo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Davies-Chalmers
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Psychology, Hospital for Sick Children , Toronto, Canada .|4 Department of Psychology, York University , Toronto, Canada .
authors.forename: Danielle
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ruskin
authors.affiliation: 3 Child Health Evaluative Sciences, Hospital for Sick Children , Toronto, Canada .
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: van Wyk
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D064866:Mindfulness
keywords: adolescent; chronic disease; mindfulness; systematic review