Mindfulness Based Cognitive Training in Children and Adolescents With ADHD

A Randomized-Controlled Trial: the Effectiveness of a Single-session of Mindfulness Based Cognitive Training on CVC and Core Symptoms in Children and Adolescents With ADHD

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.

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.

This will be a two-arm, randomized controlled trial exploring whether a single-session of MBIs could improve task-related scores of attention, mood and CVC in children and adolescents with ADHD/ADD referred to a Romanian Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Unit. Outcomes assessment will be conducted at baseline, immediately after the session of training (T1) and 4 weeks after the intervention (T2)

Randomisation will be implemented using a random numbers generator, https://www.random.org/lists/. The allocation ratio will be 1:1.

The mindfulness based cognitive training will be delivered in one session and will include short mindfulness exercises.

Control exercise, participants will listen to the first chapter of the audiobook The Hobbit, JRR Tolkien.

The mindfulness based cognitive training will include three short mindfulness exercises: a) a breathing exercise, b) a body scan exercise, and c) a mindfulness attention exercise.

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.

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 OR indicates the number of times the target was presented, but the client did not respond/click the mouse.

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 score of CR indicates the number of times the client responded but no target was presented.

Change from baseline CR (time 0) at immediately after the intervention (time 1) and after additional 4 weeks after the intervention (time 2) .

Change from baseline CVC (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.

Change from baseline mood (time 0) at immediately after the intervention (time 1) and after additional 4 weeks (time 2)

The empirically based syndromes scales of the Child Behavioral Checklist (CBCL): Anxious/Depressed, Withdrawn/Depressed, Somatic Complaints, Social Problems,Thought Problems, Attention Problems, Rule Breaking Behavior, Aggressive Behavior

Child Behavioral Checklist for Ages 6-18, (Achenbach & Rescorla, 2004) is The Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) is a checklist parents complete to detect emotional and behavioural problems in children and adolescents. It consists of 113 questions, scored on a three-point Likert scale (0=absent, 1= occurs sometimes, 2=occurs often).

ADHD Rating Scale-IV: Parent Version; is a 18-questions questionnaire in which the parents rate the the frequency of a specific behavior related to innatention or hyperactivity-impulsivity using one of the following "always or very often", "often", "somewhat", or "rarely or never".

Inclusion Criteria: 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. Exclusion Criteria: Comorbidities of Conduct Disorder, ODD, OCD Other chronic diseases Previous participation in mindfulness-based training

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