Mindfulness Based Cognitive Training in Children and Adolescents With ADHD
- Conditions
- ADHD
- Interventions
- Behavioral: Mindfulness based cognitive trainingOther: Control exercise
- Registration Number
- NCT04316832
- Lead Sponsor
- Babes-Bolyai University
- Brief Summary
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders, with a pooled worldwide prevalence of 7.2% among children. Although medication and behavioral therapy, have been shown to be effective for reducing core symptoms, about 30% of patients with ADHD would not achieve the treatment response and symptomatic remission. Additionally, some children can experience sides effects related to medication. Therefore, other psychological approaches such as Mindfulness based interventions (MBIs) have been designed for the management of ADHD.
Recent research showed that ADHD is associated with autonomic nervous system dysregulation, characterized by reduced vagally mediated-HRV, in response to a task demand. HRV is an accurate, non-invasive, cost-effective quantitative biomarker of autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity. There is evidence that MBIs could significantly reduce ADHD core symptoms and may enhance HRV through increased parasympathetic modulation. No studies have jointly examined the differential effect of MBIs on ADHD core symptoms, task related-HRV and mood.
The aim of this study is to assess the effectiveness of a single-session of mindfulness based cognitive training on CVC, core symptoms and mood in children and adolescents with ADHD, aged 6 y-17y, referred to an outpatient Romanian Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Unit by mental health professionals, teachers and/or parents.
- Detailed Description
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders, with a pooled worldwide prevalence of 7.2% among children. Children/adolescents with ADHD face significant disease burden; they experience poorer academic achievement and attainment, higher rates of risky sexual practices and early unwanted pregnancies, increase risk of substance use and relationship difficulties. Although medication and behavioral therapy, particularly given by parents and with active child and teacher involvement, have been shown to be effective for reducing core symptoms, about 30% of patients with ADHD would not achieve the treatment response and symptomatic remission. Additionally, some children can experience sides effects related to medication such as sleep problem or weight loss. Therefore, other psychological approaches such as Mindfulness based interventions (MBIs), have been designed for the management of ADHD.
Heart rate variability (HRV) represents the oscillation in time between successive heartbeats, and it can be evaluated by time- and frequency-domain measures. Recent research showed that ADHD is associated with autonomic nervous system dysregulation, characterized by reduced vagally mediated-HRV, in response to a task demand. HRV is an accurate, non-invasive, cost-effective quantitative biomarker of autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity.
Over the years, research has cumulated for supporting the use of mindfulness for various clinical health conditions. There is evidence that MBIs could significantly reduce ADHD core symptoms and may enhance HRV through increased parasympathetic modulation.
Although emerging research has shown that mindfulness has led to improvements in the core symptoms of ADHD, most of the research in this area involves extensive multi week trainings; there is limited research evaluating brief mindfulness programs in the context. Therefore, the aim of this study is to assess the effectiveness of a single-session of mindfulness based cognitive training on CVC, core symptoms and mood in children and adolescents with ADHD, aged 6 y-17y.
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- COMPLETED
- Sex
- All
- Target Recruitment
- 70
- Confirmed clinical diagnosis of ADHD
- Able to verbally communicate and write in Romanian.
- Normal intellectual ability.
- Not taking any medication/No change in ADHD specific medication(dose/type) or psychological intervention within 3 months of trial onset.
- Comorbidities of Conduct Disorder, ODD, OCD
- Other chronic diseases
- Previous participation in mindfulness-based training
Study & Design
- Study Type
- INTERVENTIONAL
- Study Design
- PARALLEL
- Arm && Interventions
Group Intervention Description Intervention/treatment Mindfulness based cognitive training The mindfulness based cognitive training will be delivered in one session and will include short mindfulness exercises. No intervention Control exercise Control exercise, participants will listen to the first chapter of the audiobook The Hobbit, JRR Tolkien.
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method % Commission errors (CR) during a computerized Continuous performance tests (CPTs) Change from baseline CR (time 0) at immediately after the intervention (time 1) and after additional 4 weeks after the intervention (time 2) . A non-x CPT task in wich the subjects must press the space bar for any letter but X. The score of CR indicates the number of times the client responded but no target was presented.
% Omission errors (OR) during a computerized Continuous performance tests (CPTs) Change from baseline OR (time 0) at immediately after the intervention (time 1) and after additional 4 weeks after the intervention (time 2) . A non-x CPT task in wich the subjects must press the space bar for any letter but X. The OR indicates the number of times the target was presented, but the client did not respond/click the mouse.
Reaction time (RT) to correct responses during a computerized Continuous performance tests (CPTs) Change from baseline RT (time 0) at immediately after the intervention (time 1) and after additional 4 weeks after the intervention (time 2) . A non-x CPT task in wich the subjects must press the space bar for any letter but X. The RT measures the amount of time between the presentation of the stimulus and the client's response.
- Secondary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Vagally mediated heart rate variability (HRV)= Cardiac Vagal Control (CVC) Change from baseline CVC (time 0) at immediately after the intervention (time 1) and after additional 4 weeks (time 2) The oscillation in time between successive heartbeats.
Mood Change from baseline mood (time 0) at immediately after the intervention (time 1) and after additional 4 weeks (time 2) Mood will be evaluated through a 4 basic emotions, using a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) (e.g., To what extent are you experiencing anxiety, sadness, anger or worry at this moment?'). A 10 cm (100 mm) horizontal line with verbal descriptors at each side of the line to express the extremes of the feeling (e.g., 'not at all' versus 'very much') will be used.
Trial Locations
- Locations (1)
S.C. Rega Med SRL
🇷🇴Cluj Napoca, Romania