+Originally published by 2 Minute Medicine® (view original article). Reused on AccessMedicine with permission.
+1. MYmind (a mindfulness-based therapy program) is comparable to cognitive behavioural therapy in improving attention scores in youths.
+2. There were small to moderate improvements in behaviour, executive function, and overall well-being within treatment groups.
+Evidence Rating Level: 1 (Excellent)
+Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common disorders affecting school-aged children with a prevalence of 9-15%. The mainstay management for ADHD may involve both pharmacotherapy and behavioural therapy. However, mindfulness therapies have not been adequately compared to evidence-based therapies in the management of ADHD. The purpose of this study was to fill in this specific gap.
+This randomized control trial (RCT) compared MYmind to cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) to improve ADHD symptoms in children aged 8-12 in Hong Kong. MYmind is an 8-week mindfulness-based therapy program. In this RCT, 69 youths were randomized to the MYmind group and 69 youths were randomized to the CBT group. Children aged 8-12 with a confirmed diagnosis of ADHD based on DSM-5 criteria, who had a normal cognitive function, and who were either on no pharmacotherapy or on the same medication for 3 months were included. Children who could not speak Cantonese, who had previously participated in a mindfulness-based therapy, or who had a severe conduct disorder, other behavioural disorders, or another psychiatric or medical illness that prevented them from participating in the study were excluded. Participants were assessed before treatment, immediately after treatment, 3 months post-treatment, and finally 6 months post-treatment. Attention was assessed using the Sky Search subtest of the Test of Everyday Attention for Children (TEA-Ch). Behaviour, executive function, mindfulness, and overall well-being were also assessed using various recognized inventories. The primary outcome measured was the attention score based on TEA-ch. The secondary outcomes measured improvement in behaviour, executive function, and overall well-being.
+The results found MYmind to be comparable to CBT in improving attention scores in youths with ADHD. Within-group data showed significant improvement in secondary outcomes, however MYmind was not shown to be superior to CBT concerning these outcomes either. A limitation of this study is that the study was carried out during the peak of the COVID-19 lockdowns and social unrest. This affected thorough follow-up and required the researchers to carry out some interventions over Zoom. However, this is the largest RCT carried out comparing mindfulness therapy to an evidence-based technique. The future of this research may involve performing a larger non-inferiority study, with longer post-treatment follow-up to assess the stability of outcomes post-intervention. Depending on future findings, mindfulness-based techniques may prove to be an adjunct or alternative therapy in the management of ADHD in youths.
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