From the Guidelines
Mindfulness is a effective adjunctive treatment for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in adults, particularly for reducing inattention symptoms, improving emotion regulation, and enhancing overall quality of life. According to the most recent study 1, evidence for the use of mindfulness for managing ADHD in the general adult population is rapidly increasing, with a solid understanding of its mechanisms at both the behavioral and neuronal levels. The study highlights that mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) help people with ADHD most profoundly in areas such as inattention symptoms, emotion regulation, executive function, and overall quality of life.
Key benefits of mindfulness for adults with ADHD include:
- Reduced inattention symptoms
- Improved emotion regulation
- Enhanced executive function
- Better overall quality of life These benefits are thought to occur due to the involvement of three main neural networks: the default mode network, salience network, and central executive network, which are implicated in both ADHD and mindfulness 1.
To achieve these benefits, adults with ADHD can practice mindfulness through various techniques, including:
- Daily meditation sessions (starting with 5-10 minutes)
- Body scan exercises
- Mindful breathing
- Incorporating mindfulness into everyday activities It is recommended to practice consistently for at least 8 weeks, ideally as part of a structured program like Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) or Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) 1. Additionally, clinical guidelines, such as those from the Canadian Resource Alliance (CAD-DR) and the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence in the United Kingdom, recommend MBIs as a nonpharmacologic intervention for adults with ADHD 1.
From the Research
Effectiveness of Mindfulness for Treating ADHD in Adults
- Research suggests that mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) may be effective in reducing symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in adults 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
- A systematic review and meta-analysis found that MBIs showed a medium pooled effect size in improving ADHD symptoms in adults, although publication bias was detected in some cases 3.
- Another systematic review found that all included studies (100%) showed improvement of ADHD symptoms, and that mindfulness meditation training also improved some aspects of executive function and emotion dysregulation 4.
- Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) and mindfulness awareness practice (MAP) were found to be effective in reducing ADHD symptoms in adults 3, 4.
- The mechanisms of mindfulness meditation, including its effects on neuronal activity in various brain circuits, provide a rationale for its use as a neuropsychotherapeutic intervention in ADHD 5.
Limitations and Future Directions
- Many studies on mindfulness-based interventions for ADHD have methodological limitations, such as lack of randomization and control groups, which may affect the actual clinical value and implications of the studies 4.
- Further research is needed to fully establish the efficacy of MBIs as a treatment for ADHD in adults, including studies with better methodology and active-controlled designs 3, 4.
- The use of MBIs as a complementary approach to cognitive-behavioral therapy and other treatments may be a promising area of future research 2, 3.