Mindfulness-Based Intervention for Adolescent Mental Health

Overseen By Megan Moran, MS

Age: < 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Colorado State University

Disqualifiers: Suicidal ideation, Severe disturbance, others

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 1

Duration: 6 weeks

74 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It is best to discuss this with the research team.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Learning to BREATHE, Mindfulness-Based Intervention (MBI) for adolescent mental health?

Research shows that mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) can help improve mental health and reduce stress, depression, and anxiety in adolescents, especially in school settings. Additionally, MBIs have been beneficial for adolescents with chronic health conditions, enhancing their overall well-being. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is Mindfulness-Based Intervention safe for adolescents?

Mindfulness-Based Interventions (MBIs) are generally considered safe for adolescents, with studies showing positive effects on mental health, such as reducing stress, anxiety, and depression. However, more research with strong methods is needed to confirm these findings and ensure safety across different settings. ^{1 4 5 6 7}

How is the Learning to BREATHE treatment different from other treatments for adolescent mental health?

Learning to BREATHE is a mindfulness-based intervention specifically designed for adolescents, focusing on improving mental health through mindfulness practices. Unlike traditional therapies, it emphasizes self-awareness and stress reduction through mindfulness exercises, which can be more accessible and engaging for young people. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

What is the purpose of this trial?

The goal of the proposed research is to support adolescent health through providing inclusive evidence-based programming that is in line with community needs. Specifically, the investigators aim to: 1) investigate the effects of mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) on adolescent mental health, 2) identify underlying mechanisms (e.g., engagement, stress physiology, emotion regulation) of MBI for adolescent health and wellbeing 3) identify facilitators and barriers of engagement in MBI for community adolescents.

Research Team

Lauren Shomaker, Ph.D.

Principal Investigator

Colorado State University

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for adolescents aged 12-18 living near Larimer County who are interested in improving their mental health. Those with severe emotional-behavioral issues, an inability to follow directions, or active suicidal thoughts or behaviors cannot participate.

Inclusion Criteria

Reside in Larimer County or the surrounding area

Exclusion Criteria

Adolescents will not take part in the program and/or research activities if they have a medical and/or psychological/behavioral condition that, in the opinion of the research team, could interfere with safety for themselves or others or interfere with the capability of the youth or other participants to potentially benefit from the program (e.g., severe emotional-behavioral disturbance, inability to follow facilitator directions)

I do not have thoughts or behaviors of harming myself.

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants undergo a 6-week mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) to support adolescent mental health and identify underlying mechanisms.

6 weeks

Weekly sessions

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in mental health and engagement post-intervention.

6 weeks

1 visit (in-person or virtual)

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Learning to BREATHE

Trial Overview The study tests a mindfulness-based intervention called 'Learning to BREATHE' to see how it affects adolescent mental health and identifies what makes the program effective or challenging for teens.

Participant Groups

Group I: Mindfulness-based intervention Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

6 week group mindfulness-based intervention

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Colorado State University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

138

Recruited

38,200+

Findings from Research

Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) are increasingly being integrated into cognitive-behavioral therapy for children and adolescents, but research on their specific implementation in individual therapy is still limited.

The 'Mindfulness and Relaxation Study - Children and Adolescents' (MARS-CA) is examining the effects of mindfulness and relaxation interventions on young patients' symptoms and therapeutic relationships, with preliminary results indicating that both types of interventions are effective with juvenile patients.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Mindfulness in Trainee Psychotherapies with Children and Adolescents]. Kalmar, J., Engel, S., Baumann, I., et al.[2020]

A 5-week mindfulness-based intervention for adolescents with psychiatric disorders led to significant decreases in psychological distress and increases in mindfulness and self-esteem, indicating its potential effectiveness.

Both adolescents and their parents reported improvements in functioning, suggesting that the intervention is not only feasible and acceptable but also beneficial for mental health, warranting further research in a randomized controlled study.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Taming the adolescent mind: preliminary report of a mindfulness-based psychological intervention for adolescents with clinical heterogeneous mental health diagnoses. Tan, L., Martin, G.[2022]

This review aims to synthesize existing literature on mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) for children and adolescents, highlighting their application for both healthy individuals and those with various disorders, which is still a developing field.

The study will provide a comprehensive overview of MBI methodologies and outcomes, helping to identify trends and gaps in research, ultimately guiding future studies to enhance the effectiveness of mindfulness practices in pediatric populations.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Mindfulness-based interventions for children and adolescents across all settings: a scoping review protocol. Perrier, MF., Gurgel-Juarez, N., Flowers, HL., et al.[2021]

This study is testing the effectiveness of an 8-week mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) for adolescents with chronic health conditions, comparing in-person delivery to eHealth delivery, with a focus on improving mindfulness skills, mood, anxiety, self-esteem, and stress levels.

The research aims to show that both delivery methods will be equally effective and feasible, potentially increasing access to MBIs for teens with mobility issues or those living in areas without in-person programs.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

In-Person Versus eHealth Mindfulness-Based Intervention for Adolescents With Chronic Illness: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial. Chadi, N., Kaufman, M., Weisbaum, E., et al.[2020]

Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) significantly improved symptoms of stress in adolescents, with a small overall effect size of 0.33 based on a meta-analysis of 9 studies involving 5046 participants.

However, MBIs did not show significant effects on depression or anxiety symptoms, particularly when compared to active control groups, indicating that while they may help with stress, their efficacy for other mental health issues is less clear.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Review: Meta-analysis on mindfulness-based interventions for adolescents' stress, depression, and anxiety in school settings: a cautionary tale. Fulambarkar, N., Seo, B., Testerman, A., et al.[2023]

In a study involving 144 patients with bipolar disorder undergoing Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), adverse effects (AEs) were reported by 29 patients, with most occurring within the first three weeks and decreasing thereafter.

Despite the occurrence of AEs, most patients viewed them as part of a therapeutic process rather than harmful, indicating that while AEs are present, they are generally not serious and can be perceived positively in the context of treatment.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Adverse or therapeutic? A mixed-methods study investigating adverse effects of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy in bipolar disorder. Hanssen, I., Scheepbouwer, V., Huijbers, M., et al.[2021]

Mindfulness-based interventions (MBI) show promising effects on psychological health in children and adolescents, particularly in reducing stress, anxiety, and depression, as well as improving executive functions and socio-emotional skills.

Despite the encouraging results, there is a strong need for more rigorously designed studies to validate the efficacy of MBI before implementing these programs widely in school and clinical settings.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Mindfulness based interventions for children and adolescents]. Hà-Vinh Leuchter, R., Siffredi, V., Magnus Smith, M., et al.[2020]

References

1. Germany pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Mindfulness in Trainee Psychotherapies with Children and Adolescents]. [2020]

2. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Taming the adolescent mind: preliminary report of a mindfulness-based psychological intervention for adolescents with clinical heterogeneous mental health diagnoses. [2022]

3. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Mindfulness-based interventions for children and adolescents across all settings: a scoping review protocol. [2021]

4. Canada pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

In-Person Versus eHealth Mindfulness-Based Intervention for Adolescents With Chronic Illness: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial. [2020]

5. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Review: Meta-analysis on mindfulness-based interventions for adolescents' stress, depression, and anxiety in school settings: a cautionary tale. [2023]

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

Adverse or therapeutic? A mixed-methods study investigating adverse effects of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy in bipolar disorder. [2021]

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

[Mindfulness based interventions for children and adolescents]. [2020]