Improving self-regulation in adolescents: current evidence for the role of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy

Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT), introduced in 1995 for recurrent depression, uses meditation to help individuals regulate attention, thereby managing psychological symptoms such as emotional responses to stress, anxiety, and depression. Studies show that mindfulness approaches reduce negative emotional reactions stemming from psychiatric difficulties and stressors in children, adolescents, and parents. Mindfulness may be especially helpful for youth who ruminate. Clinical experience with MBCT is increasingly supported by empirical studies for treating challenging symptoms in youth. This paper describes MBCT, its mindfulness practices, theoretical mechanisms, and reviews studies in adolescents.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) was introduced in 1995 to address the problem of recurrent depression. MBCT is based on the notion that meditation helps individuals effectively deploy and regulate attention to effectively manage and treat a range of psychological symptoms, including emotional responses to stress, anxiety, and depression. Several studies demonstrate that mindfulness approaches can effectively reduce negative emotional reactions that result from and/or exacerbate psychiatric difficulties and exposure to stressors among children, adolescents, and their parents. Mindfulness may be particularly relevant for youth with maladaptive cognitive processes such as rumination. Clinical experience regarding the utility of mindfulness-based approaches, including MBCT, is being increasingly supported by empirical studies to optimize the effective treatment of youth with a range of challenging symptoms. This paper provides a description of MBCT, including mindfulness practices, theoretical mechanisms of action, and targeted review of studies in adolescents.