Fundamentals of Mental Health

Fundamentals of Mental Health

Effectiveness of mindfulness-based therapy on the rate of symptoms and mindfulness in adolescents with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors
Zeynab Abdolahzadeh 1
Ali Mashhadi 2
Zahra Tabibi 2
1 Ph.D. student of psychology, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
2 Associate professor of psychology, Faculty of Education and Psychology, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
10.22038/jfmh.2016.8214
Abstract
Introduction: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common childhood disorders that can often continue through adolescence and adulthood. Different treatment methods have been used so far for treating this disorder. In recent years, mindfulness-based treatment approaches have attracted the attention of researchers. This research aims to investigate the effect of mindfulness-based treatment on the symptoms of ADHD and mindfulness score in adolescents suffering from ADHD.
 Materials and Methods: The present research is a clinical trial research with pretest-posttest design and control group (IRCT code: IRCT2016011826079N1). The study sample included 30 female first and second grade high school students in Gonabad suffering from ADHD. The tools used in the research included clinical interview, SNAP-IV Parent Rating Scale, and Mindful Attention Awareness Scale. The experimental group received eight 90-minute sessions of mindfulness-based treatments and the control group was assigned to a waiting list. The data was analyzed through descriptive statistics and univariate analysis of covariance by SPSS version 20 software.
 Results: According to our findings, the experimental group reported fewer symptoms of ADHD in posttest (P<0.001) compared to the control group. Moreover, the mindfulness of the experimental group improved in the posttest (P<0.001) compared to the control group.
 Conclusion: The results of the research show that mindfulness-based treatment improved the symptoms of ADHD and mindfulness in adolescents suffering from ADHD.
Keywords
Adolescents
Attention deficit hyperactive disorder
Mindfulness
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Fundamentals of Mental Health
Volume 19, Issue 1
January and February 2017
Pages 30-37