Mindfulness Practices for ADHD

Recruiting at 1 trial location

Overseen By Matthew A Jarrett, PhD

Age: < 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa

Disqualifiers: Severe depression, Mania, Substance abuse, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

Duration: 8 weeks

100 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that commonly persists into adulthood and is associated with significant life impairments. The current study evaluates the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of a group-based mindfulness intervention for first-year college students with ADHD. If found to be feasible, acceptable, and efficacious, subsequent research will examine its impact on a larger scale to have a broader public health impact for college students with ADHD.

Do I need to stop my current medications for the trial?

The trial does not specify if you need to stop your current medications, but it mentions that participants should not have an unstable dosage of psychotropic medication (medications that affect mood, perception, or behavior). It might be best to discuss your current medication with the trial coordinators.

What data supports the effectiveness of this treatment for ADHD?

Research shows that mindfulness-based treatments, like Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) and Mindful Awareness Practices (MAPs), can help reduce ADHD symptoms and improve mental health in adults. These therapies have shown promising results in improving attention and self-control, which are often challenging for people with ADHD. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is mindfulness safe for people with ADHD?

Mindfulness practices, like Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) and Mindful Awareness Practices (MAPs), have been studied for ADHD and are generally considered safe for adults and children. Some studies show they can help improve mental health and reduce ADHD symptoms, with only a modest drop-out rate, indicating they are well-tolerated. ^{3 4 5 6 7}

How is the Mindfulness Awareness Practices treatment different from other ADHD treatments?

Mindfulness Awareness Practices for ADHD is unique because it focuses on improving attention and self-regulation through mindfulness meditation, which is a non-drug approach. This treatment helps individuals with ADHD by enhancing their ability to focus and manage emotions, offering an alternative or complement to traditional medication-based therapies. ^{3 4 5 8 9}

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for first-year college students aged 17-25 who have been diagnosed with ADHD. Participants should not have major medical issues or severe mental health conditions like depression, mania, substance abuse, personality disorders that could affect group participation, psychosis, recent trauma, or unstable psychotropic medication doses.

Inclusion Criteria

I am a first-semester college student with ADHD.

I am between 17 and 25 years old.

You meet the requirements for ADHD.

Exclusion Criteria

My mental health medication dose has been changing.

I have experienced symptoms like hallucinations or delusions.

Ongoing substance abuse

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants undergo an 8-week, group-based mindfulness program (MAPs) for ADHD, delivered within university counseling center settings.

8 weeks

Weekly sessions

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment, with assessments at 1-month and 6-month post-treatment.

6 months

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Mindfulness Awareness Practices for ADHD (adapted)

Trial Overview The study is testing a mindfulness program adapted for ADHD against the usual services provided to these students. It aims to see if this approach is practical and helpful in managing ADHD symptoms among first-year college students.

Participant Groups

Group I: Adapted Mindful Awareness Practices (MAPS) Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

The Mindful Awareness Practices (MAPs) for ADHD program, an 8-week, group-based mindfulness program for adults with ADHD, has been shown to reduce ADHD, depression, and anxiety symptoms. While promising, it is unknown as to whether the MAPs protocol is feasible, acceptable, and efficacious for college students with ADHD. The current study takes the first step towards enhanced study of mindfulness for college students with ADHD by testing the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of an adapted MAPs protocol delivered within university counseling center settings during the first semester of college.

Group II: Services-As-Usual Active Control 1 Intervention

Services-As-Usual includes the standard academic support services provided by university disability/accessibility offices.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa

Lead Sponsor

Trials

49

Recruited

17,900+

Wofford College

Collaborator

Trials

1

Recruited

100+

Findings from Research

A 12-week mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) program significantly reduced ADHD symptoms in adults, as shown by both investigator ratings and self-reports from 55 participants compared to a waitlist group of 48.

Improvements in executive functioning and mindfulness skills were also noted, suggesting that the effectiveness of MBCT may be linked to enhanced mindfulness, particularly the skill of 'Act With Awareness', although no changes were observed in depressive or anxiety symptoms.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Efficacy of Adapted MBCT on Core Symptoms and Executive Functioning in Adults With ADHD: A Preliminary Randomized Controlled Trial. Hepark, S., Janssen, L., de Vries, A., et al.[2022]

An 8-week mindfulness training program (MAP) was found to be equally effective as structured psychoeducation (PE) in reducing ADHD symptoms among 81 medication-free adult patients, with both groups showing significant improvements that lasted for 6 months.

The study also suggested a potential gender difference in treatment response, with women benefiting more overall, while men showed greater improvements specifically under the mindfulness training.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Mindfulness vs psychoeducation in adult ADHD: a randomized controlled trial. Hoxhaj, E., Sadohara, C., Borel, P., et al.[2018]

An adapted Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) program for adults with ADHD showed a significant reduction in ADHD symptoms and improvements in executive functioning, self-compassion, and mental health among 31 participants.

The study had a low drop-out rate of 16%, indicating that the program was feasible, but further research through a larger Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) is necessary to confirm its effectiveness.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Feasibility, Effectiveness, and Process of Change of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Adults With ADHD: A Mixed-Method Pilot Study. Janssen, L., de Vries, AM., Hepark, S., et al.[2022]

In a study involving 120 adults with ADHD, those receiving mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) alongside usual treatment (TAU) showed a significant reduction in ADHD symptoms compared to those receiving TAU alone, with effects lasting up to 6 months.

Participants in the MBCT + TAU group not only experienced a notable decrease in ADHD symptoms but also reported improvements in mindfulness skills, self-compassion, and positive mental health, suggesting that MBCT can enhance overall well-being in adults with ADHD.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy v. treatment as usual in adults with ADHD: a multicentre, single-blind, randomised controlled trial. Janssen, L., Kan, CC., Carpentier, PJ., et al.[2020]

Mindfulness-based training is emerging as a promising nonpharmacological intervention for adults with ADHD, offering an alternative treatment option that is gaining traction in clinical settings.

The review discusses the Mindful Awareness Practices (MAPs) for ADHD Program and highlights the need for further research on mindfulness meditation, both as a standalone treatment and in combination with cognitive-behavioral therapy.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Mindfulness Meditation Training for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Adulthood: Current Empirical Support, Treatment Overview, and Future Directions. Mitchell, JT., Zylowska, L., Kollins, SH.[2022]

Mindfulness-based therapies (MBTs) may significantly reduce symptoms of ADHD, with a strong effect size of d = -0.66 for inattention and d = -0.53 for hyperactivity/impulsivity based on a systematic review of 10 studies.

The analysis suggests that MBTs could be a beneficial treatment option for individuals with ADHD, indicating a need for further research to explore their effectiveness in this area.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Therapies for ADHD: A Meta-Analytic Review. Cairncross, M., Miller, CJ.[2021]

Mindfulness-based interventions show a significant effect in reducing ADHD symptoms in children, with an overall effect size of g = 0.77 based on 11 studies in the meta-analysis.

These interventions also positively impact mindfulness skills and reduce parental stress, indicating broader benefits beyond just ADHD symptom management.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of Mindfulness-Based Interventions in Children and Adolescents with ADHD: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Lee, YC., Chen, CR., Lin, KC.[2023]

Mindfulness training may enhance attentional processes in individuals with ADHD, suggesting it could be a valuable addition to existing evidence-based treatments.

Preliminary findings indicate that integrating mindfulness training with behavioral parent training can improve psychosocial interventions for families dealing with ADHD.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Mindfulness training as an adjunct to evidence-based treatment for ADHD within families. Cassone, AR.[2022]

An 8-week mindfulness meditation program showed positive feasibility and acceptability among adults with ADHD, with significant improvements in self-reported ADHD symptoms and emotion dysregulation compared to a waitlist group.

The treatment group experienced large effect sizes in symptom improvement, although no significant changes were noted in executive functioning tasks, indicating that mindfulness may be more effective for certain ADHD-related symptoms than others.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A Pilot Trial of Mindfulness Meditation Training for ADHD in Adulthood: Impact on Core Symptoms, Executive Functioning, and Emotion Dysregulation. Mitchell, JT., McIntyre, EM., English, JS., et al.[2022]

References

1. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Efficacy of Adapted MBCT on Core Symptoms and Executive Functioning in Adults With ADHD: A Preliminary Randomized Controlled Trial. [2022]

2. Germany pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Mindfulness vs psychoeducation in adult ADHD: a randomized controlled trial. [2018]

3. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Feasibility, Effectiveness, and Process of Change of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Adults With ADHD: A Mixed-Method Pilot Study. [2022]

4. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy v. treatment as usual in adults with ADHD: a multicentre, single-blind, randomised controlled trial. [2020]

5. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Mindfulness Meditation Training for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Adulthood: Current Empirical Support, Treatment Overview, and Future Directions. [2022]

6. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Therapies for ADHD: A Meta-Analytic Review. [2021]

7. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of Mindfulness-Based Interventions in Children and Adolescents with ADHD: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. [2023]

8. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Mindfulness training as an adjunct to evidence-based treatment for ADHD within families. [2022]

9. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A Pilot Trial of Mindfulness Meditation Training for ADHD in Adulthood: Impact on Core Symptoms, Executive Functioning, and Emotion Dysregulation. [2022]