Mindfulness-based stress reduction for the treatment of adolescent psychiatric outpatients: A randomized clinical trial.

A randomized clinical trial tested the mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) program for adolescents aged 14 to 18 years with various mental health diagnoses in an outpatient psychiatric setting. Compared to those receiving treatment as usual, adolescents who completed MBSR reported fewer symptoms of anxiety, depression, and somatic distress, along with improved self-esteem and sleep quality. The MBSR group also showed a higher rate of diagnostic improvement over five months and greater increases in global functioning, as rated by clinicians unaware of treatment assignment. These results suggest MBSR may be a useful addition to standard outpatient mental health care for adolescents.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Research has shown that mindfulness-based treatment interventions may be effective for a range of mental and physical health disorders in adult populations, but little is known about the effectiveness of such interventions for treating adolescent conditions. The present randomized clinical trial was designed to assess the effect of the mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) program for adolescents age 14 to 18 years with heterogeneous diagnoses in an outpatient psychiatric facility (intent-to-treat N = 102). Relative to treatment-as-usual control participants, those receiving MBSR self-reported reduced symptoms of anxiety, depression, and somatic distress, and increased self-esteem and sleep quality. Of clinical significance, the MBSR group showed a higher percentage of diagnostic improvement over the 5-month study period and significant increases in global assessment of functioning scores relative to controls, as rated by condition-naïve clinicians. These results were found in both completer and intent-to-treat samples. The findings provide evidence that MBSR may be a beneficial adjunct to outpatient mental health treatment for adolescents.