Mindfulness Meditation and Anxiety in Adolescents on an Inpatient Psychiatric Unit

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.

Study at a glance

Abstract

This study presents the impact of chaplain-provided mindfulness meditation (MM) groups on state-anxiety in adolescent inpatients on an acute psychiatric unit, an understudied topic that warrants further research given that anxiety is a demonstrated predictor of suicide attempts in adolescents and the elevated suicide risk of this population. A total of 53 adolescent patients, age 13–19, attended optional 30-minute MM groups while hospitalized for inpatient psychiatric care. State-anxiety was assessed immediately before and after each MM session, and psychiatric symptom severity upon admission was compared between patients choosing to attend MM and those who did not. State-anxiety was found to decrease significantly between pre- and post-MM upon first exposure regardless of patient age, sex, and prior experience with MM. Findings also suggest the possibility that patients experiencing symptoms of psychosis may benefit more from MM as compared to other patients. Admission symptom severity was not found to be an indicator of MM attendance. These findings suggest the possibility that MM could be an effective and relatively immediate transdiagnostic intervention to lower state anxiety in adolescents on an inpatient psychiatric unit and invite further implementation and research by staff chaplains on such units.