Positive Health Online

Abstract

BIEGEL and COLLEAGUES,  Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Kaiser Permanente Hospital, San Jose, CA 95136, USA. gina@stressedteens.com conducted a randomized clinical trial (RCT) to assess the effect of a mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) program in adolescents in an outpatient psychiatric facility.

Background

Research has shown that mindfulness-based treatment interventions may be effective for a range of mental and physical health disorders in adult populations, but little is known about the effectiveness of such interventions for treating adolescent conditions.

Methodology

The present randomized clinical trial was designed to assess the effect of the mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) program for adolescents age 14 to 18 years with heterogeneous diagnoses in an outpatient psychiatric facility (intent-to-treat N = 102).

Results

Relative to treatment-as-usual control participants, those receiving MBSR self-reported reduced symptoms of anxiety, depression, and somatic distress, and increased self-esteem and sleep quality. Of clinical significance, the MBSR group showed a higher percentage of diagnostic improvement over the 5-month study period and significant increases in global assessment of functioning scores relative to controls, as rated by condition-naive clinicians. These results were found in both completer and intent-to-treat samples.

Conclusion

The findings provide evidence that MBSR may be a beneficial adjunct to outpatient mental health treatment for adolescents.

References

Biegel GM, Brown KW, Shapiro SL and Schubert CM. Mindfulness-based stress reduction for the treatment of adolescent psychiatric outpatients: A randomized clinical trial. Journal of Consulting & Clinical Psychology. 77(5): 855-66. Oct 2009.