Benefits of Meditation in adolescents with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: a narrative review

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Published

2013-12-12

How to Cite

Torres Pascual, C., & Torrell Vallespín, S. (2013). Benefits of Meditation in adolescents with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: a narrative review. Revista De Psiquiatría Infanto-Juvenil, 30(4), 19–23. Retrieved from https://aepnya.eu/index.php/revistaaepnya/article/view/244

Issue

Vol. 30 No. 4 (2013)

Section

Review article

Authors

  • Cristina Torres Pascual, Dra Escola Universitària de la Salut i l’Esport
  • Sandra Torrell Vallespín Escola Universitària de la Salut i l’Esport

Keywords:

Meditation, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders, ADHD, adolescent

Abstract

Introduction: In recent years meditation has been subject of multiple studies to observe the changes produced in the brain neurophysiology, leads to an improvement of psychiatric disorders. Thus, the symptoms of patients with attention deficit disorder and hyperactivity (ADHD) could benefit from the effects of meditation. The objective of the study is to review the benefits of meditation in adolescents with ADHD.

Material and methods: the work consists on a narrative review of publications on meditation in adolescents with ADHD. The sources of information have been PubMed, LILACS, ERIC, The Cochrane Library and Google Scholar for the period 2002-2012.

Results: The total number of retrieved articles was eleven. Studied ages range from 6 to 18 years, being full transcendental meditation the intervention applied. Application times are 10-20 minutes, with a daily rate or two times per week for eight weeks, according to studies. Studies reflect the good results of this technique to reduce stress, anxiety, depressive symptoms as well as a behavioral and cognitive best answer in patients with ADHD.

Discussion: The attention generated with meditation leads brain to structural changes, such as increase in the cortical thickness of areas involved in attention, and neuro-endocrine changes, such as decreased cortisol or increase of serotonin, among others. Without any doubt, these changes could improve the ADHD clinic.

Conclusions: The study presents a high risk of bias so it is necessary to carry out further studies.

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Author Biographies

Cristina Torres Pascual, Dra, Escola Universitària de la Salut i l’Esport

Escola Universitària de la Salut i l’Esport, EUSES. Salt, Girona. España.
Hospital de l’Esperança. Grau en Fisioteràpia UAB. Bellaterra, Barcelona. España.

Sandra Torrell Vallespín, Escola Universitària de la Salut i l’Esport

Escola Universitària de la Salut i l’Esport, EUSES. Salt, Girona. España.
Hospital de l’Esperança. Grau en Fisioteràpia UAB. Bellaterra, Barcelona. España.

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