Hostname: page-component-6bf8c574d5-2jptb Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-02-16T19:09:49.688Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Rolling out a mindfulness-based stress reduction intervention for parents of children with ADHD: a feasibility study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 December 2020

R. Rice Open the ORCID record for R. Rice [Opens in a new window] ,
A. Ni Bhearra ,
K. Kilbride ,
C. Lynch  and
F. McNicholas
R. Rice*
Affiliation:
North Galway CAMHS Team, Ballard House, Galway, Ireland
A. Ni Bhearra
Affiliation:
Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
K. Kilbride
Affiliation:
HADD- ADHD, Dublin, Ireland
C. Lynch
Affiliation:
Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
F. McNicholas
Affiliation:
Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
*
*Address for correspondence: Rónán Rice, North Galway CAMHS Team, Ballard House, Bothar le Cheile, Westside, Galway. (Email: [email protected])
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Background:

Attention-deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is the single most frequent reason for attendance at Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) in Ireland. Research has suggested that parents of children with ADHD experience more parenting stress than parents of non-clinical controls, yet routine treatment for ADHD rarely addresses parental well-being. Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) have been found to result in a reduction in parental stress.

Method:

An adapted Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) intervention was delivered to parents (n = 23) of children with ADHD recruited from CAMHS and ADHD Ireland.

Results:

Following the intervention a significant improvement was documented within the social relationships domain of quality of life (WHOQOL-BREF) and a significant reduction on the child hyperactivity scale of the Strengths and Difficulties (SDQ) questionnaire.

Conclusion:

This pilot study suggests that an MBSR intervention is both feasible and effective for parents whose children have ADHD. Larger scale studies need to be conducted before inclusion in routine CAMHS.

Keywords

ADHDCAMHSMBSRMindfulness
Type
Short Report
Information
Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine , Volume 40 , Issue 2 , June 2023 , pp. 254 - 261
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2020. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of The College of Psychiatrists of Ireland

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

American Psychiatric Association (2013). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. American Psychiatric Publishing: Washington, DC.Google Scholar
Berry, J, Jones, W (1995). The parental stress scale: initial psychometric evidence. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships 12, 463–472.10.1177/0265407595123009CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Brown, KW, Ryan, RM (2003). The benefits of being present: mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 84, 822–848.10.1037/0022-3514.84.4.822CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Cairncross, M, Miller, C (2016). The effectiveness of mindfulness-based therapies for ADHD. Journal of Attention Disorders 24, 627–643.10.1177/1087054715625301CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Carlson, L, Brown, K (2005). Validation of the mindful attention awareness scale in a cancer population. Journal of Psychosomatic Research 58, 29–33.10.1016/j.jpsychores.2004.04.366CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Carmody, J, Baer, R (2007). Relationships between mindfulness practice and levels of mindfulness, medical and psychological symptoms and well-being in a mindfulness-based stress reduction program. Journal of Behavioral Medicine 31, 23–33.10.1007/s10865-007-9130-7CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chronis, AM, Lahey, BB, Pelham, WE Jr, Williams, SH, Baumann, BL, Kipp, H, Jones, HA, Rathouz, PJ (2007). Maternal depression and early positive parenting predict future conduct problems in young children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Developmental Psychology 43, 70–82.10.1037/0012-1649.43.1.70CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Evans, S, Ling, M, Hill, B, Rinehart, N, Austin, D, Sciberras, E (2017). Systematic review of meditation-based interventions for children with ADHD. European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry 27, 9–27.10.1007/s00787-017-1008-9CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gibaud-Wallston, J, Wandersman, LP (1978, August). Development and utility of the Parenting Sense of Competence Scale. Paper presented at the meeting of the American Psychological Association, Toronto, Canada.10.1037/t01311-000CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Goodman, R (1997). The strengths and difficulties questionnaire: a research note. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry 38, 581–586.10.1111/j.1469-7610.1997.tb01545.xCrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Goodman, R (2001). Psychometric properties of the strengths and difficulties questionnaire. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry 40, 1337–1345.10.1097/00004583-200111000-00015CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gotink, R, Chu, P, Busschbach, J, Benson, H, Fricchione, G, Hunink, M (2015). Standardised mindfulness-based interventions in healthcare: an overview of systematic reviews and meta-analyses of RCTs. PLoS One 10, e0124344.10.1371/journal.pone.0124344CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Groves, P (2016). Mindfulness in psychiatry – where are we now? BJPsych Bulletin 40, 289–292.10.1192/pb.bp.115.052993CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hayes, SC, Strosahl, KD, Wilson, KG (1999). Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: An Experiential Approach to Behavior Change. Guilford Press: New York.Google Scholar
Hofmann, S, Sawyer, A, Witt, A, Oh, D (2010). The effect of mindfulness-based therapy on anxiety and depression: a meta-analytic review. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 78, 169–183.10.1037/a0018555CrossRefGoogle Scholar
HSE (2014). Fifth Annual Report of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS).Google Scholar
Hyland, T (2016). Mindful nation UK – report by the Mindfulness All-Party Parliamentary Group (MAPPG). Journal of Vocational Education & Training 68, 133–136.10.1080/13636820.2015.1123926CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kabat-Zinn, J (2013). Mindfulness Diverse Perspectives on its Meaning, Origins and Applications. Routledge. Abingdon-on Thames.Google Scholar
Koszycki, D, Benger, M, Shlik, J, Bradwejn, J (2007). Randomized trial of a meditation-based stress reduction program and cognitive behavior therapy in generalized social anxiety disorder. Behaviour Research and Therapy 45, 2518–2526.10.1016/j.brat.2007.04.011CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kozlowski, A (2013). Mindful mating: exploring the connection between mindfulness and relationship satisfaction. Sexual and Relationship Therapy 28, 92–104.10.1080/14681994.2012.748889CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lifford, K, Harold, G, Thapar, A (2008). Parent–child relationships and ADHD symptoms: a longitudinal analysis. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology 36, 285–296.10.1007/s10802-007-9177-5CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Linehan, M, Schmidt, H, Dimeff, LA, Craft, JC, Kanter, J, Comtois, KA, (1999). Dialectical behavior therapy for patients with borderline personality disorder and drug-dependence. American Journal on Addictions 8, 279–292.Google ScholarPubMed
Lo, H, Wong, S, Wong, J, Yeung, J, Snel, E, Wong, S (2017). The effects of family-based mindfulness intervention on ADHD symptomology in young children and their parents: a randomized control trial. Journal of Attention Disorders 24, 667–680.10.1177/1087054717743330CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Loe, I, Feldman, H (2007). Academic and educational outcomes of children with ADHD. Ambulatory Pediatrics 7, 82–90.10.1016/j.ambp.2006.05.005CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Modesto-Lowe, V, Danforth, J, Brooks, D (2008). ADHD: does parenting style matter? Clinical Pediatrics 47, 865–872.10.1177/0009922808319963CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Murphy, M, Donovan, S, Taylor, E (1997). The Physical and Psychological Effects of Meditation: A Review of Contemporary Research with a Comprehensive Bibliography, 2nd ed., pp. 1931–1996. Sausalito, CA: Institute of Noetic Sciences.Google Scholar
Neece, C, Green, S, Baker, B (2012). Parenting stress and child behavior problems: a transactional relationship across time. American Journal on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities 117, 48–66.10.1352/1944-7558-117.1.48CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Rayan, A, Ahmad, M (2016). Effectiveness of mindfulness-based intervention on perceived stress, anxiety, and depression among parents of children with autism spectrum disorder. Mindfulness 8, 677–690.10.1007/s12671-016-0595-8CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Seixas, M, Weiss, M, Müller, U (2012). Systematic review of national and international guidelines on attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. Journal of Psychopharmacology 26, 753–765.10.1177/0269881111412095CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Shapiro, S, Astin, J, Bishop, S, Cordova, M (2005). Mindfulness-based stress reduction for health care professionals: results from a randomized trial. International Journal of Stress Management 12, 164–176.10.1037/1072-5245.12.2.164CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Skevington, S, Lotfy, M, O’Connell, K (2004). The world health organization’s WHOQOL-BREF quality of life assessment: psychometric properties and results of the international field trial. A report from the WHOQOL group. Quality of Life Research 13, 299–310.10.1023/B:QURE.0000018486.91360.00CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sonuga-Barke, EJ, Brandeis, D, Cortese, S, Daley, D, Ferrin, M, Holtmann, M, Stevenson, J, Danckaerts, M, Van der Oord, S, Döpfner, M, Dittmann, RW (2013). Non-pharmacological interventions for ADHD: systematic review and meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials of dietary and psychological treatments. American Journal of Psychiatry 170, 275–289.10.1176/appi.ajp.2012.12070991CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Teasdale, J, Segal, Z, Williams, J, Ridgeway, V, Soulsby, J, Lau, M (2000). Prevention of relapse/recurrence in major depression by mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 68, 615–623.10.1037/0022-006X.68.4.615CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Teasdale, J, Segal, Z, Williams, J (2007). The Mindful Way through Depression: Freeing Yourself from Chronic Unhappiness. By Mark Williams, John Teasdale, Zindel Segal & Jon Kabat-Zinn. Guilford Publications. 2007. 278 pp. ISBN 9781593851286. British Journal of Psychiatry, 191, 574–574.Google Scholar
Theule, J, Wiener, J, Tannock, R, Jenkins, J (2013). Parenting stress in families of children with ADHD. Journal of Emotional and Behavioral Disorders 21, 3–17.Google Scholar
van de Weijer-Bergsma, E, Formsma, A, de Bruin, E, Bögels, S (2011). The effectiveness of mindfulness training on behavioral problems and attentional functioning in adolescents with ADHD. Journal of Child and Family Studies 21, 775–787.10.1007/s10826-011-9531-7CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Van Gordon, W, Shonin, E, Griffiths, M, Singh, N (2015). There is only one mindfulness: why science and Buddhism need to work together. Mindfulness 6, 49–56.10.1007/s12671-014-0379-yCrossRefGoogle Scholar
WHOQOL-BREF (1998). World Health Organisation. Measuring Quality of Life. Available from https://www.who.int/healthinfo/survey/whoqol-qualityoflife/en/index1.html.Google Scholar
Willcutt, E (2012). The prevalence of DSM-IV attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: a meta-analytic review. Neurotherapeutics 9, 490–499.10.1007/s13311-012-0135-8CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Xiang, Y, Luk, E, Lai, K (2009). Quality of life in parents of children with attention-deficit–hyperactivity disorder in Hong Kong. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry 43, 731–738.10.1080/00048670903001968CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Zhang, D, Chan, S, Lo, H, Chan, C, Chan, J, Ting, K, Gao, T, Lai, K, Bögels, S, Wong, S (2016). Mindfulness-based intervention for Chinese children with ADHD and their parents: a pilot mixed-method study. Mindfulness 8, 859–872.10.1007/s12671-016-0660-3CrossRefGoogle Scholar