Mindfulness Intervention in Adult ADHD (MIAA)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A pilot randomised controlled trial of Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy compared to Psychoeducation in adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
IRAS ID
244432
Contact name
Philip J Asherson
Contact email
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 5 months, 31 days
Research summary
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by persistent patterns of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity, affecting 3-4% of adults and significantly impairing social, work and academic functioning. Stimulant medication is the first-line treatment when trying to deal with ADHD symptomatology. However, medication is not a useable solution for a significant range of patients and there is high demand for effective psychological interventions as alternatives to medication. Mindfulness based interventions (MBI) may contribute to fill this gap. MBI enhance the ability to self-regulate attentional states and facilitate the awareness of the present moment with a non-judgmentally attitude. There is promising evidence to support a direct effect of MBI on reducing core ADHD symptoms, improving working memory capacity, attention, executive control and emotion regulation. Overall, studies suggest effects of MBI that are of same order of magnitude as the effects of medication for ADHD. However, the design of more controlled clinical trials is needed to empirically explore the efficacy of MBI on ADHD symptoms. Furthermore, it still remain unclear what psychological and/or behavioural mechanisms may be mediating treatment response in ADHD. One robust candidate is excessive mind-wandering (MW). Excessive, spontaneous MW (i.e. thoughts constantly on the go, thoughts flitting from one topic to another and multiple thoughts at the same time) is a highly characteristic and measurable component of ADHD, a strong predictor of ADHD symptoms and ADHD-associated impairments in daily life. MBI have been proposed to have positive regulatory effects on these MW associated processes. We will conduct a pilot clinical trial powered to contribute to establish the effects of MBI on reducing ADHD symptoms as compared to a psychoeducation program. We will also investigate measures of MW and MW-associated neural processes (EEG) which are proposed as the underlying mechanism that drives the treatment response.
REC name
London - Surrey Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/LO/1634
Date of REC Opinion
28 Nov 2018
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion