The efficacy of mindfulness-based interventions in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder beyond core symptoms: A systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-regression.

Summary & key facts

Researchers looked at many studies that tested mindfulness-based programs for people with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, but focused on effects beyond the main ADHD symptoms. They found some evidence that mindfulness training can help with things like paying attention, controlling emotions, and feeling less anxious or low. The improvements were usually small to modest and not the same in every study. The researchers also said the evidence has limits because many studies were small, different from each other, or did not check long-term results. That means mindfulness might help some people with ADHD in ways other than reducing core symptoms, but the results are not strong or certain enough to be the final word.

Key facts:

• The paper reviewed many previous studies that tested mindfulness-based interventions for people with ADHD, and combined their results to look for overall patterns.
• Across studies, mindfulness programs were linked to small to modest improvements in things beyond core ADHD symptoms, such as attention control, planning and organization, and emotional regulation.
• Mindfulness was also associated with decreases in anxiety and low mood in some studies, suggesting benefits for emotional symptoms that often come with ADHD.
• The size and consistency of the benefits varied a lot between studies, so not everyone in every study showed the same gains.
• The researchers warned that many studies were small, used different mindfulness programs, and often lacked long-term follow-up. These limits make the overall evidence uncertain.

Topics

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Children's Physical and Motor Development Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions

Categories

Health Sciences Medicine Psychiatry and Mental health

Tags

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder Clinical psychology Cognition Internal medicine Law Medicine MEDLINE Meta-analysis Mindfulness Neurocognitive Observational study Political science Psychiatry Psychological intervention Psychology Publication bias Randomized controlled trial Systematic review

Conditions & symptoms

ADHD Anxiety Depression Anxiety or worry Difficulty focusing Sadness or low mood