Mindfulness Meditation and Anxiety in Adolescents on an Inpatient Psychiatric Unit
Journal of Health Care Chaplaincy April 25, 2019 Harrison Blum, C. Rutt, Carol C Nash et al.
Anxiety is a known predictor of suicide attempts in adolescents, yet little research has examined mindfulness meditation (MM) for this population during acute psychiatric hospitalization. Fifty-three adolescent inpatients aged 13–19 attended optional 30-minute MM groups led by a chaplain. State-anxiety was measured immediately before and after each session. State-anxiety decreased significantly after the first MM session, regardless of age, sex, or prior MM experience. Patients experiencing symptoms of psychosis may have benefited more than others. Admission symptom severity did not predict attendance. MM may be an effective, relatively immediate transdiagnostic intervention to lower state anxiety in hospitalized adolescents.