Effects Of The Mindfulness Meditation Practices On Cognition

Federal University of São Paulo40 enrolled

Overview

Adults with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) have impairments in attentional subsystems of alerting and conflict monitoring. Mindfulness meditation may lead to an improvement of these deficits, and reduces symptoms of anxiety and depression. However, the studies that demonstrated these improvements did not use a control group, nor controlled the use of medication. In the present study the investigators will examine the effects of the mindfulness practices (same protocol of 8 weekly sessions used in the study that showed positive effects in this disorder) in the performance of adult patients and healthy people (with ADHD). Cognitive performance, mood, and the quality of life will be assessed by validated questionnaires before and after treatment/standby.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

NON_RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Enrollment

Conditions

Attention Deficit Disorder With Hyperactivity

Interventions

MeditationBEHAVIORAL

In the eight weeks following the first session of cognitive tests, the participants made a practice of weekly meditation group lasting 2 hours. Practices with each group (patients and "active" controls) occurred on different days. With regard to meditation practices were performed in a sitting posture with emphasis on daily life. Each weekly session involved meditation practices with trained professional, practical proposals for home exercise and a discussion group. Meditation compact discs (CDs)were given to participants for practices at home, which proposed activities for 5 minutes to 1 week and 2 weeks for 10 minutes 3-5, and finally 15 minutes for 6-8 weeks. After 8 weeks of treatment the second session of tests was held that involved the same tasks in session 1.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsMax age: 40 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Portuguese as their first language; * minimum of eight years of formal education; * normal vision or corrected to normal and normal hearing; * no prior experience with meditation; * patients should be taking stable doses of methylphenidate (for at least a month) for their disorder as prescribed by their doctors. Exclusion Criteria: * patients with neurological and psychiatric disorders such as psychosis, obsessive-compulsive disorder or Tourette's syndrome.

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Evaluate the ADHD symptoms before to the meditation and after 8 weeks to the meditation.

The symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity / impulsivity were evaluated by means the Adult self-report scale (ASRS).

Time frame: change from baseline in ADHD symptoms at 8 weeks

Evaluate the executive functions

The executive functions tests were applied before to the meditation, so that to avoid learning.

Time frame: 1 day

Evaluate the mood symptoms before to the meditation and 8 weeks after to the meditation.

The symptoms of anxiety and depression were evaluated by means of the following scales: Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-Trait), and Beck Depression Scale, respectively, and the visual-analog scales of mood (VAMS)and Positive and negative Affect Schedule extended (PANAS-X).

Time frame: change from baseline in mood symptoms at 8 weeks.

Evaluate the quality of life before to the meditation and 8 weeks after to the meditation.

Quality of Life was evaluated by means of the Questionnaire in Adults with ADHD (AAQoL).

Time frame: change from baseline in quality of life at 8 weeks.

Evaluate the attention before to the meditation and 8 weeks after to the meditation.

The scores of attention was evaluated by Continuous Performance Test (CPT) and the Attentional Network Test (ANT).

Time frame: change from baseline in attention at 8 weeks.