Impact of mindfulness-based interventions on anxiety and depression among adolescents with a neurological disorder: A systematic narrative review
Albany LaGore, Nadine Kridli, Ron Piscotty, Suha Kridli
Journal of Nursing Education and Practice May 25, 2026 DOI: 10.63564/jnep.v16n6p35 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Systematic review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Adolescents with neurological disorders and comorbid anxiety and/or depression |
| Topics | Anxiety Depression Meditation |
| Key findings | Mindfulness-based interventions improved psychological, emotional, and behavioral outcomes, including reductions in pain, emotional dysregulation, and attentional difficulties, but effects on anxiety and depression were mixed, with several studies showing no statistically significant changes. |
Abstract
Background: Adolescents with neurological disorders (NDs) experience significantly higher rates of depression, anxiety, or both relative to adolescents in the general population. The purpose of this systematic narrative review was to examine the existing literature evaluating the effects of mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) on anxiety, depression, or both among adolescents with a known ND.
Methods: Articles published in the English language within the last 10 years were screened. Studies included in this review must have implemented an MBI.
Results: Ten articles met the inclusion criteria for final analysis. Across the included studies, MBI-based physical and behavioral interventions demonstrated improvements in psychological, emotional, and behavioral outcomes, including reductions in pain, emotional dysregulation, and attentional difficulties. However, findings related to improvements in anxiety and depression were mixed, as several studies did not report statistically significant changes in either outcome.
Conclusions: Future research is needed to clarify the effects of MBIs on adolescents with NDs and comorbid anxiety and/or depression. Future studies should specifically target this population to gain deeper insights into the impact of MBIs on mental health outcomes and overall well-being, with particular attention to anxiety and depression.