Mindfulness to improve the symptoms of children and adolescents with ADHD

Mindfulness , or mindful awareness, is a psychological intervention technique that focuses on paying conscious, intentional attention to the present moment. It is considered one of the third-generation therapies within the cognitive-behavioral model and has opened the door to new strategies for treating attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Several studies support the effectiveness of mindfulness practice in children and adolescents.

In the case of use with children and adolescents with ADHD, the Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Unit of the Sant Joan de Déu Hospital in Barcelona, carried out a study with a sample of 120 children and adolescents with ADHD in which they revealed that the practice of mindfulness reduced attention problems and improved the behavior of these children , so this practice can become an effective intervention strategy, complementary to pharmacological treatment.

The study, led by Dr. José Ángel Alda and Dr. Anna Huguet, monitored the progress of a group of 60 boys and girls between the ages of 7 and 12 who, after being diagnosed with ADHD, participated in mindfulness sessions. Their progress was compared with that of another group of 60 children who, once diagnosed, received counseling and psychoeducational interventions. In the mindfulness sessions, the children learned mindfulness exercises over eight weeks, in 75-minute sessions. These exercises could then be practiced at home.

According to the study results, children who participated in the mindfulness program showed a reduction in symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity, and improvements in emotion regulation were observed, to a greater degree than in children who received standard treatment for this disorder. A reduction in irritability and anger episodes was also observed. The standard treatment consisted of psychoeducation about the disorder, behavioral guidelines, and psychoeducational interventions. Pharmacological treatment was not included.

This recognition of the program's benefits led to Mindfulness for Health (M4H): A Mindfulness Program for Children with ADHD , a mindfulness program used to address the difficulties of children with ADHD, which is available for download from Faros. In this report and program, developed by Dr. Anna Huguet and Dr. José Ángel Alda, mental health professionals and those in other clinical fields will find guidelines for implementing this intervention.