Mindfulness Meditation Training for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Adulthood: Current Empirical Support, Treatment Overview, and Future Directions.

Author: Mitchell JT1, Zylowska L2, Kollins SH1.
Affiliation: 1Duke University Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. 2University of California Santa Cruz ; University of California Los Angeles.
Conference/Journal: Cogn Behav Pract.
Date published: 2015 May
Other: Volume ID: 22 , Issue ID: 2 , Pages: 172-191 , Word Count: 146


Abstract
Research examining nonpharmacological interventions for adults diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has expanded in recent years and provides patients with more treatment options. Mindfulness-based training is an example of an intervention that is gaining promising preliminary empirical support and is increasingly administered in clinical settings. The aim of this review is to provide a rationale for the application of mindfulness to individuals diagnosed with ADHD, describe the current state of the empirical basis for mindfulness training in ADHD, and summarize a treatment approach specific to adults diagnosed with ADHD: the Mindful Awareness Practices (MAPs) for ADHD Program. Two case study examples are provided to demonstrate relevant clinical issues for practitioners interested in this approach. Directions for future research, including mindfulness meditation as a standalone treatment and as a complementary approach to cognitive-behavioral therapy, are provided.
KEYWORDS:
ADHD; attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder; mindfulness meditation training
PMID: 25908900